Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Carnage

Bad Driver or Bizarre 9/11 Re-Enactment?

car_in_house.jpg

The New York Post reports:

September 13, 2006 -- A Long Island driver turned his car into a deadly missile yesterday when he hit a dirt mound, zoomed 200 feet through the air and crash-landed into the second floor of an apartment complex, police said.

The horrifying morning mishap in Coram killed the driver, Vincent Pontillo, 43, but his car miraculously missed terrified tenant Amrita Bijoor when the car came to a stop in her bathroom.

"I heard a thud and I just got out of there," said Bijoor, who was in her bedroom getting ready for work when the car crashed only 10 feet away from her.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Tuesday’s Headlines: The Storm Before the Calm Edition

What a mess (was Gersh actually right?!). Plus other news.

January 27, 2026

Frank Arroyo, Lower East Side Bike Shop Legend, Has Died

The death of a beloved small business owner is always cause for mourning in the neighborhood. But Frank, who opened his shop on the far eastern end of Grand Street in 1976, evokes more than mere grief.

January 27, 2026

Memo to Mamdani: Bring Back the Weekend G Train to Forest Hills

The new mayor should work with Gov. Hochul and the MTA to restore the Crosstown Local to 71st Avenue.

January 27, 2026

How Mamdani Can Fix NYC’s Neglected Greenways

This vital transportation infrastructure needs a lot of TLC by the new mayor.

January 26, 2026

Cycle of Rage: NYC Is A HELLSCAPE For Pedestrians

We can apportion the blame later in the day, but the greatest walkable city in North America is completely impassible to people on foot or in wheelchairs.

January 26, 2026

Gov. Hochul’s Car Insurance Proposal is a Disaster for Crash Victims’ Rights

As a state that values walking and biking, we cannot allow the governor to gut the rights of the people most at risk — especially since it won't lower insurance rates anyway.

January 26, 2026
See all posts