A stolen SUV plowed into an audio equipment store after a police chase on Long Island Tuesday, crashing through concrete and glass into the building that was filled with customers, police say.
Michael Nash, 20, of Patchogue, stole the car from a Jiffy Lube and took off, with police soon on his tail, according to authorities.
He lost control while turning near the intersection of state Route 112 and Main Street in Patchogue and slammed into a truck rim display on the sidewalk before crashing into the Avenue Sound store at about 3 p.m., police said.
Vikas Molchandi, the general manager at the store, was ringing up a customer when the vehicle barreled into the shop.
"The car was coming down Route 12, and we hear sirens, we hear horns honking. We hear a whole bunch of clanking, which are the rims we have on display, and before you know it, the car was right in the front showroom," he said.
"As soon as we saw the wheels up in the air, we all just turned and started running."
A customer inside the store was hit by flying glass but declined medical treatment, police say.
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Nash was taken into custody after being treated for minor injuries at a hospital. He faces charges for stealing the car and running from police.
It's not clear whether he has an attorney.
Molchandi says his entire front showroom and all the equipment by the front door are damaged.
"It's a big loss," he said.
-- Gus Rosendale contributed to this report.
