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Car Slams Into Furniture Store in Queens, 3 Hurt: Officials

Jarring surveillance video shows the car barreling into the store at what appears to be near full speed; it also captures the moment of impact

What to Know

  • A car crashed into a furniture store in Queens early Thursday, officials say
  • The silver Honda Accord crashed into Salco Furniture on Liberty Avenue, near 122nd Street, in Richmond Hill, injuring at least people
  • Police are looking into whether speed was a factor in the crash; the investigation is ongoing

A car jumped the curb and slammed into a furniture store in Queens early Thursday, injuring a man and two women, one of whom is not expected to survive, officials say.

Terrifying surveillance video shows the silver Honda Accord ram into Salco Furniture on Liberty Avenue, near 122nd Street, in Richmond Hill around 2:30 a.m. The footage shows the car barreling into the store at what appears to be near full speed. The impact is so strong it sends the back of the vehicle flying up into the air as smoke and flames spew from the front and undercarriage.

Jarring surveillance video shows the car barreling into the store at what appears to be near full speed. The impact is so strong it sends the back of the car flying up into the air as smoke and what looks like fire spew from the front.

Stunned witnesses who heard the crash and saw the aftermath said they knew every moment counted -- and they watched emergency crews break windows in a desperate effort to get the victims out. 

The driver, a 25-year-old woman, was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said. Two passengers, a 41-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, were also taken to the hospital but are expected to survive.

Footage from the scene showed the front of the vehicle crumpled like an accordion. At least one exploded airbag was visible. 

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A friend of one of the victims told News 4 described the male passenger as an "amazing guy." She said she didn't know the woman driving. 

Video shows FDNY officials on the scene and shows the store's metal gate damaged as well as broken windows. 

Police are looking into whether speed was a factor in the crash. Roads were also fairly slippery at the time, authorities say. The Department of Buildings says the masonry at the front of the furniture store and at the front of an adjacent building were damaged, but inspectors deemed both structures stable.

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