A BMW crashed into a parked van and then careened into an East Village ‎hardware store Monday afternoon, authorities and witnesses said.
The BMW was headed north on 1st Avenue near East 7th Street just after 4 p.m. when the driver struck an idle white van, witnesses said.
“‎The BMW hit a truck, lost control and swerved,” said Rupak Pradhan, manager of Saifee Hardware and Garden.
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“‎I heard a big bang and squeaking tires,” Pradhan said.
The luxury car then hurtled through the window of the home-improvement store, but miraculously no workers or customers were injured.
“‎We ran into the end of the shop,” said shaken shopper Tatyana Murray, 40. “I thought it was a truck. I ‎thought I was going to die.”
Executive manager Mike Taheraly said, “‎We are lucky the plants out front took most of the impact,” noting that about $15,000 in merchandise was destroyed.
The BMW driver and a passenger were taken to Bellevue with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Witnesses claimed the BMW was speeding, but authorities said there was no criminality in the smash-up.