By Tuan Nguyen and Mary Johnson
DNAinfo Staff
MANHATTAN — A minivan jumped a curb and slammed into a glass-walled art studio in the West Village on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
The exterior walls of the studio on Seventh Avenue South and Commerce Street were completely destroyed, as were several pieces of art created by the studio’s owner, Philip Mortillaro.
Mortillaro, 62, said he was not inside the building at the time of the accident but ran to the scene as soon as he heard the news.
“I don’t feel safe anymore at this place,” said Mortillaro, who has occupied the space for about a year. “They have this maniac turn here.”
Two people suffered minor injuries in the incident and were taken to Bellevue Hospital Center, a fire department spokesman said.
Mortillaro said he too could have been injured, had his son not stopped by to visit him.
"If he hadn't come, I would have been working and got hurt," Mortillaro said.
