Car crashes into NYC bakery on opening day after road rage dispute

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Road rage dispute ends with car in Queens bakery

At least four people were injured in an apparent road rage incident that ended with a car smashing through the front of a Queens bakery that was marking its grand opening Monday.

FLUSHING, Queens (WABC) -- At least four people were injured in an apparent road rage incident that ended with a car smashing through the front of a Queens bakery that was marking its grand opening Monday.

It happened just after 4 p.m. on Kissena Boulevard in Flushing, where police say two cars with two occupants each became involved in a dispute over a parking space or a vehicle.

The occupants of one car allegedly exited with a baseball bat and approached the other vehicle, at which point authorities say that driver attempted to run the two men over and instead plowed into the Rainbow Bakery.

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Two females suffered minor injuries after being injured by shattered glass and were taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens.

All four occupants of the two vehicles were arrested, with two going to the hospital and two taken to the 109th Precinct.

Jie Zou, 24, was charged with reckless endangerment and assault. Jonathan Zhang, 35, was charged with assault.

The Rainbow Bakery had just opened Monday.

"I'm so sad, worried about my employees, I worry about my business too, we spent a lot of money for renovation," owner John Lo said.

Department of Buildings inspectors checking the structural stability of the building determined that the vehicle damaged the glass entrance and window at the front of the store, as well as one of the interior partition walls inside of the store.

The rest of the building was deemed stable, and only a partial vacate order was issued for the bakery.

Andy Chen is with Asian American Community Empowerment and believes the mayor bears some responsibility for this pressure cooker. By eliminating so many parking spots, shoppers are forced into a tense game of musical chairs.

"This is one issue happening every minute, every day, people fighting over a parking spot when they eliminate over 100 parking spots on Main Street, this will happen," Chen said.

Lo is now awaiting for insurance to help him clean up the mess and reopen for walk-in customers.