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Read the press release here.

Elderly Man Seriously Hurt When Car Crashes Through Queens Storefront

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | February 26, 2013 12:31pm

QUEENS — An elderly man lost his foot Tuesday when an out of control driver backed into him and crashed through a Queens Boulevard storefront before fleeing the scene, authorities said.

The 84-year old victim was rushed to Jamaica Hospital in serious condition after the accident at 125-28 Queens Blvd., fire officials said.

The driver — a 64-year old man, driving a 2003 Saturn — fled the scene but was caught shortly afterward, cops said. 
Charges are pending.

According to police, the crash occurred just before 9 a.m. in a busy area of Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens, across the street from the court building and Borough Hall.

Alex Gilbert, a lawyer who works at the courthouse, said he was on his way to work when he saw the crash.

“This guy drove backwards,” Gilbert said. “It looks like he was parallel parking but it seemed to me like he confused the gas and the brake.”

Gilbert said the car “knocked this parking meter over and he went right into the UPS store front.

The impact from the crash "knocked down the facade and the glass and his back tires were on top of the pile of bricks," he added.

Joseph Sulik, a lawyer who also witnessed the accident, said the driver “flew right out and went down Queens Boulevard.”

Gilbert said the victim was conscious when the police arrived at the scene.