Truck Crashes Into Nostrand Avenue Storefront To Avoid Hitting Bicyclist

The driver of a truck that smashed into a vacant storefront on Nostrand Avenue Sunday evening said he swerved to avoid a bicyclist and lost control of his vehicle.

“The guy just shot across and I tried to avoid him and the car went out of control,” said the driver, 65-year-old Richard Bjork.

Bjork said he was making a right turn from Nostrand Avenue onto Avenue W around 6pm when the bicyclist zoomed past him on the crosswalk. After veering left to miss the biker, Bjork said his gas pedal stuck and sent his 2002 Chevy Avalanche hurdling into the building.

The bicyclist did not stick around after the crash, he said.

The vehicle crumpled against a metal gate that had been pulled over a window. Glass scattered around the sidewalk and firefighters called the department of buildings to evaluate whether the structure was in danger of collapsing.

Battalion 43 Fire Chief Don Murphy said no one was inside the property at the time of the accident.

Bjork said he was returning home from a auto exhibition in Gerritsen beach, where his truck won third place for “best in show.” He said he felt unhurt after the accident and the FDNY later reported there were no injuries sustained from the crash.

“Thankfully, I had my seatbelt on,” he said.