Runaway SUV traps workers in pizzeria

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A car smashed through the storefront window of a pizzeria on Kappock Street as New Year’s Day was observed Monday, temporarily barricading two customers, the owner and his employees inside until  Fire Department crews could clear the way, the owner said. 

The incident at Famous Pizza Express, at 570 Kappock St. near Netherland Avenue, occurred around 3 p.m. on Jan. 2, at the close of a long New Year’s Day weekend, when a car drove through the restaurant’s window and remained there, Sal DiFiore, the pizzeria’s owner, told The Press. 

“The car stayed there. The fire department came, they bashed everything out,” he said. “They cleared the way so we could come out.”

“We were stuck inside. It took us about 15-20 minutes before we got out,” DiFiore said. 

No injuries were reported, according to DiFiore and police officers at the scene, who denied initial media reports earlier Monday that claimed two people were injured, without providing details. 

“One customer got real scared, I know, but he was alright,” DiFiore said. “They are all alright.” 

The driver of the car that hit the storefront apparently swerved into the restaurant when trying to avoid a collision with another car, which apparently ran a red light, DiFiore said, adding that he could not see much from inside the pizzeria. 

Under a drizzling rain late Monday afternoon, DiFiore, his wife, Janine, their friends and the owners of neighboring businesses huddled under umbrellas and blankets, sipping coffee as they waited for Buildings Department crews to arrive and determine whether the area was safe – “so I can go back inside and get my things together,” DiFiore said. 

City workers were also expected to board up the store’s front later in the night. Until they did so, a police car, its lights flashing, remained at the scene, parked in front of the battered restaurant and a yellow tape that surrounded it and read: “fire line, do not cross.” 

Famous Pizza Express, car crash, Kappock Street, Anna Dolgov