6 Injured When SUV Barrels Into Public Library In Spring Valley
SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A sport-utility vehicle barreled into the front door of a library packed with people in Rockland County Tuesday night, leaving six people injured.
As CBS 2's Dave Carlin reported, among the injured was a 14-year-old girl who got stuck under the vehicle. But she ended up only suffering lacerations and bruises.
When the SUV barreled into the Finkelstein Memorial Library, at 24 Chestnut St. in Spring Valley, the library was set to be open for two more hours and was busy.
Chaos erupted as the Toyota RAV4 slammed into the circulation desk, toppling computers and bookcases.
"A scary thing for everybody," said Willy Paraison. "We all run down – we didn't even know what door to get out."
Six people were injured, most of them hit by debris. The victims included the male driver of the RAV4, a library staffer, and four children – the youngest about 6 years old.
The most seriously injured was a 14-year-old girl who was underneath the vehicle. Witnesses were relieved to see her talking and able to move.
The victims were taken to Nyack Hospital in Nyack and Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.
Instagram video taken at the scene showed multiple emergency vehicles and people standing outside.
"I think that somebody just wasn't paying attention – maybe looked up and put on the gas instead of the brake or something like that. I don't know," said library director Tracey Allen.
The library will be closed on Wednesday, and may remain closed for the rest of the week.
The incident was the second time in one day when a car slammed into a building in the northern suburbs. Around 1:25 a.m. Tuesday, four families were ordered out of their homes when a car slammed into a building at McLean Avenue and Bronx River Road in Yonkers.
Police late Tuesday were searching for the driver, who also destroyed the River's Edge bar when she barreled her car into the building. The driver was believed to be drunk at the time.
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