Bronx catering hall damaged after car crashes into it

BRONX, N.Y. (WABC) -- A car crashed into the front of the Villa Barone Manor catering hall in the Bronx Wednesday morning.

The driver lost control and struck the front of the building in the 700 block of the Throgs Neck Expressway in the Eastchester Bay section. The incident happened just before 7 a.m.

The Lexus sedan hit a guardrail on the Philip Avenue exit which sent it careening towards the hall. The impact knocked out an exterior column and the vehicle ended up crashing through the side doors.

The business was badly damaged, but there was no one inside at the time and the driver wasn't seriously hurt. The sidewalk also was not crowded with kids walking to a nearby school.

Villa Barone's owners said there have been four other accidents involving cars speeding off the exit and they have asked the Department of Transportation to make changes.

Clean-up is under way. Villa Barone has two parties Thursday night and two weddings this weekend, owners said.