CBS2 Exclusive: LI Doctor Fed Up With Drivers Crashing Into Office
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island doctor is fed up after an out-of-control driver smashed into his medical office.
As CBS2's Dave Carlin reported, it's not the first time it's happened, but this time the doctor caught it on camera.
Dr. Ebenezer Essuman was shaking after seeing surveillance video of an elderly woman driver barreling across the roadway, and narrowly missing another car.
It happened outside of his office before smashing through a fence and into the front of the medical building that he owns in Uniondale.
"This is the third time," he said.
Dr. Essuman said twice before, drivers have smashed into his fence and then left the scene. He put up a surveillance camera in case it happened again.
Authorities said it's possible that the still unidentified driver was cut off by another vehicle. She was taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. Firefighters from the Uniondale Fire Department were able to respond quickly.
"We had a small fire in the engine compartment area, our guys were very good, they got there quickly and they were able to get the victim out," Chief Vaughn Tucker said.
After the impact, fire investigators checked the building's entire foundation.
"There was a fire and the fire department put it out quickly. It could have spread to the house and there could have been a lot more damage," Uniondale Fire Prevention officer Peter Anglim said.
The medical office faces a very busy intersection with a library and a school nearby.
Dr. Essuman still can't understand why his property keeps getting struck.
"I suspect most of the times it might be that they're on alcohol or drugs," he said.
Dr. Essuman said one of his workers was in the basement, but no one was hurt. He's glad that no one has been killed.
He said his insurance will cover the damage. Nassau County Police did not issue a ticket to the injured driver.