Violations & compliance · 10/15/2026
SUV crashes into New Park Pizza in Howard Beach, DOB finds rear wall damaged
On Oct. 15, a BMW SUV crashed through the rear wall of New Park Pizza at 156-71 Cross Bay Blvd. after the driver hit the accelerator while parking. Two people had non-life-threatening injuries. DOB inspectors found the rear wall of the one-story building badly damaged, utilities were cut, and a contractor put up a construction fence. The investigation is ongoing.
Reported by QNSRead the original ↗
What happened
A BMW SUV crashed into the rear of New Park Pizza at 156-71 Cross Bay Blvd. in Howard Beach, Queens, on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 15, QNS reported. The FDNY received the call just before 1:15 p.m.
Police said a 68-year-old woman was trying to park her white BMW SUV in the rear parking lot. She hit the accelerator instead of the brake and lost control. The SUV went through the wall and into the dining area. The driver had pain in her knee and neck. A 73-year-old male customer had a cut to his knee. EMS took both to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in Brooklyn. The FDNY and NYPD said both were in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. The NYPD Emergency Service Unit removed the vehicle from the building.
Inspectors from the city Department of Buildings (DOB) checked the structural stability of the one-story commercial building. They found the rear side wall badly damaged. Utilities to the building were cut. DOB found the front side egress was not affected. A board-up company put up a construction fence around the damaged wall that afternoon. Council Member Joann Ariola called it "a miracle that a life wasn't lost." The investigation is ongoing.
Key facts
- Address
- 156-71 Cross Bay Blvd., Howard Beach, Queens
- Date
- Thursday, Oct. 15, call received just before 1:15 p.m.
- Business
- New Park Pizza
- Building
- One-story commercial building
- Injured
- Driver, 68, with knee and neck pain; male customer, 73, with a knee cut; both stable
- Hospital
- Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn
- Agencies
- FDNY, NYPD Emergency Service Unit, DOB
- DOB findings
- Rear side wall badly damaged; utilities cut; front side egress not affected
What it means
Buyers and owners
A vehicle strike can quickly lead to a DOB structural inspection, utility shutoff and required fencing or board-up. Owners of buildings near parking lots may want to review their insurance coverage and physical barriers.
Landlords
When DOB finds serious wall damage, the owner is generally responsible for securing the site and arranging repairs before normal use can resume. Commercial tenants may be unable to operate while utilities are off.
The highlights
- A 68-year-old driver hit the gas instead of the brake while parking, police said.
- She and a 73-year-old customer went to Brookdale Hospital in stable condition.
- Utilities were cut; DOB found the front exit unaffected and a fence went up.
Why it matters Landlords
For owners of buildings next to parking lots, a single crash can mean a DOB inspection, utility shutoff and urgent wall repairs.
Not known yet
- Whether DOB issued a vacate order or any violations for the building
- How long New Park Pizza will be closed
- Who owns the building and who will pay for repairs
- Whether the driver faces any charges or summonses
Background
When a vehicle hits a building in New York City, DOB is often called to check whether the structure is stable. Depending on what inspectors find, DOB can order part or all of a building vacated, require the owner to secure the site with fencing or shoring, and require an engineer's review and permits before repairs. Utilities may be shut off until the building is deemed safe.
Summary written by Bulwark from QNS’s reporting. The original story is at qns.com. This is general information, not legal advice.
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0