A tragedy was narrowly avoided in Woodhaven one day after Christmas when the driver of a stolen car jumped the curb outside a bank and smashed into benches along the sidewalk, which was empty at the moment of impact.
The incident occurred during the afternoon of Dec. 26 at a row of benches outside the Chase branch on Jamaica Avenue.
“A vehicle lost control and slammed into the benches near the Chase Bank and Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven,” Councilwoman Joann Ariola said. “Fortunately, there were no serious injuries as a result of the impact, but the benches were destroyed and the area was left littered with debris.”
An NYPD spokesman couldn’t provide additional information on the incident.
Ariola thanked several groups for joining forces at the scene for a community cleanup of the wreckage.
“Working closely with our partners in the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, New York City Department of Sanitation, Woodhaven Business Improvement District, Chase Bank and the NYPD’s 102nd Precinct, we were able to get the area cleaned up and restored within 48 hours.”
There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.
