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SUV Crashes Into Long Island Wendy's, Injuring 8: Police

An SUV went backwards across a highway and crashed into a Wendy's restaurant Saturday afternoon on Long Island, hurting seven people in the restaurant and the driver, police said. 

The driver, an 87-year-old man from Lindenhurst, drove his SUV in reverse across five lanes of traffic on Montauk Highway, jumped a lawn and went backwards into the front of the West Babylon restaurant, Suffolk County police said. 

Witnesses described a bloody scene and crying children after the SUV plowed into the restaurant around 1:40 p.m. 

"Out of nowhere we heard a loud boom and naturally we all look out the window," said Jason Godsmark, who was across the street at Babylon Honda. "We realize there's people screaming outside and everybody's going crazy." 

Frank Inzirillo was also at Babylon Honda. “It was amazing that he made it across Montauk Highway in reverse without actually getting hit by all the traffic,” he said. 

Video shows the red Hyundai almost entirely within the restaurant as crews work to remove it amid debris and shattered glass. 

Seven people in the restaurant suffered minor injuries and were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, police said. 

The driver was taken to the same hospital for minor injuries and hasn't been charged with any crimes. 

Police haven't said what may have caused the accident.

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