By Kiawana Rich
Staten Island Advance
Copyright 2007 Advance Publications, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

WEST BRIGHTON, N.Y. —  Four firefighters and a Woodrow woman were injured yesterday afternoon when a firetruck hit the woman's sport utility vehicle and sent it careening into a West Brighton appliance store.

The firefighters and Shanin Clark of Woodrow Road sustained minor injuries and were taken to Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton, fire officials said.

"She was banged up but the injuries are not life-threatening," said Chief Richard Howe of Division 8.

Howe said the driver was alone in her SUV when the crash occurred. A fifth firefighter in the firetruck was not injured.

According to officials at the scene, the truck from Engine Co. 156 was traveling on Castleton Avenue toward Port Richmond when it collided with Ms. Clark's dark green Ford Expedition.

The force of the collision pushed the SUV backwards into a telephone pole at the corner of Castleton and Roe Street, then thrust it into the door of Sid Phillips Appliance Service at 1190 Castleton Ave.

Although his store escaped serious damage, owner Laird Phillips, 63, of New Springville, admitted to being scared out of his wits by the crash.

"All I heard was a big boom," said Phillips, who was working at a computer in the front of the store. "I was lucky I wasn't standing right at the front door."

Firefighters squeezed in and out of the several-inch opening left after the firetruck's back end shoved most of the door area closed.

Ms. Clark's SUV was not so fortunate. Both front and rear passenger-side tires were gone and there was heavy damage to the grill and rear left passenger side.

The telephone pole was also badly damaged, with spikes of wood sticking out from near the ground.

"This is a bad corner," said Phillips, who noted there have been several accidents at the corner as cars speeding on Roe attempt fast turns - and often wind up hitting the same telephone pole or crashing into his store.

"This has got to be the fourth or fifth time that a car has hit my store," said Phillips. "We've had all three of these windows broken in the past few years."

Kelly Benedicto, 35, who lives upstairs from the store, said she heard a big boom and immediately knew what it was. "This is the third accident we've had here in three years," she added.

"I don't feel safe," said 13-year-old Adrian Khan, who lives in the neighborhood. "There's been too many car accident right near his (Phillips') door."