A stunning crash in Bay Shore has left residents in disbelief after a car flew through the air, soaring over six lanes of Sunrise Highway in the middle of rush hour traffic — and it was all caught on camera.
The incident happened around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, when a 70-year-old man behind the wheel of a Honda sedan was driving south on Pine Acres Boulevard. According to officials, the vehicle suddenly sped across a grassy embankment, launching off a hill like a ramp and going completely airborne over Sunrise Highway, one of Long Island’s busiest roadways.
Remarkably, the car cleared all six lanes of traffic and landed up against a tree on the opposite side of the highway. Even more incredible was that the driver survived with only minor injuries.
"It looked like a meteor going across the highway. At first I didn’t know it was a car," said witness Brandon Hyacinthe, who captured the dramatic moment on his dash camera. His vehicle was just feet away from the flying sedan.
The crash did not involve any other vehicles, and no bystanders were injured. Given the time of day and heavy traffic, officials say it’s a miracle that no one else was hurt.
Bay Shore Fire Chief John Ippolito Jr. said the car’s speed had to be well above the 30 mph limit on Pine Acres Boulevard in order to gain the kind of lift required to make the jump.
"To get the lift and to come up the embankment the way he did, there had to be a high rate of speed involved," Ippolito said.
Police have not yet released details on what caused the driver to lose control, and as of now, no charges have been filed. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital.