Car drives into Delaware Avenue Dunkin’ Donuts (UPDATED)

BETHLEHEM – A 79-year-old woman crashed into the Dunkin’ Donuts shop on Delaware Avenue Friday, June 1, at around 2:30 p.m. sending two teen customers to the hospital.

Bethlehem Police Cmdr. Adam Hornick said the two injured were seated at a table when the woman crashed through the glass windows on the Lincoln Avenue side of the shop, coming to rest completely inside the store.

One person, a 16-year-old female, was trapped under the car but was able to extricate herself. The second, an 18-year-old female, was treated at the scene with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.

Both were transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital.

The driver of the 2016 Honda CRV, who police initially said was 80 years old, was not injured and refused medical treatment. She was cooperating with the investigation, Hornick said, before she went home.

Police are not releasing her name at this time, only that she is from Delmar.

There are witnesses who saw the accident from the outside, Hornick said, and there is video. What caused the car to propel into the building, though, has not yet been officially determined.

“It sounded like a tree fell on my house,” said Lincoln Avenue resident Kathy Stipe. “At first I thought it was my house because a tree fell on my house years ago and it sounded the same way. But, when I came down, the police cars were here in an hurry, and there was glass all over the place and the car was inside and they brought two people out in a stretcher.”

An accident reconstruction team was on scene as were members of the town Building Department and the Elsmere Fire Department.

The 232 Delaware Ave. store will remain closed pending a structural evaluation.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to contact them at 518-439-9973.

Friday, June 1, coincidentally, is National Donut Day.

Share this: Facebook

Twitter

Reddit

LinkedIn

Print



Related

Comment on this Story