Crash sends car barreling into outdoor dining area in Manhattan, 8 hurt: Officials

The dining area was unoccupied but the debris and impact left several hurt.

March 5, 2021, 2:16 PM

A collision sent a car barreling into an outdoor dining area in New York City Friday morning, flinging debris and wounding eight people, officials said.

Just after 8:30 a.m. in Midtown Manhattan, a man driving a white van collided with the back of a Toyota Camry, sending the Camry plowing into an outdoor dining area, which was unoccupied, law enforcement officials said.

PHOTO: A crash sent a car barreling into an outdoor dining area in New York City, March 5, 2021
A crash sent a car barreling into an outdoor dining area in New York City, March 5, 2021.
WABC

The white van then traveled another block before coming to a rest in scaffolding, law enforcement said.

Flying debris from the outdoor dining set up hit a 5-year-old boy and a 7-year-old boy, law enforcement said.

Six adults were hurt, including pedestrians and some people who were in the Camry, law enforcement said.

PHOTO: Surveillance video captured a car barreling into an outdoor dining area after a crash in New York City, March 5, 2021.
Surveillance video captured a car barreling into an outdoor dining area after a crash in New York City, March 5, 2021.
Blank Slate

The 66-year-old van driver was taken to a precinct where he had a medical episode, law enforcement said. He has since been taken to a hospital.

PHOTO: Surveillance video captured a van before it hit a car in New York City, March 5, 2021.
Surveillance video captured a van before it hit a car in New York City, March 5, 2021.
Blank Slate

The sidewalk shed suffered damage from the crash but didn't collapse, the Department of Buildings said. The building wasn't impacted and didn't suffer damage, they said.