A Connecticut man accused of drunken driving plowed a van into pedestrians and multiple businesses along East Tremont Avenue late Friday night.
Authorities identified the suspect as Abner Rosa Blanco, 42, of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Police said Blanco was taken into custody and charged with three counts of driving while intoxicated.
Surveillance video shows a white van speeding onto the sidewalk along East Tremont Avenue shortly before 11 p.m. It strikes a car before crashing through a line of storefronts. In the video, a pedestrian can be seen looking out from a deli moments before the van barrels into the businesses.
Police said the van struck an 18-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man, neither of whom is visible in the video. Both were taken to a hospital and are expected to recover. No life-threatening injuries were reported.
The crash caused extensive damage to several businesses between Third Avenue and Monterey Avenue. A shopping cart near the scene was mangled, and multiple storefronts were left with shattered glass and structural damage.
At one Chinese restaurant, the owner swept up debris Saturday morning but said the business would not be able to open due to the damage. He said repairs are expected to be costly.
Business owners along East Tremont Avenue are now assessing the damage and determining how much it will cost to repair their storefronts as cleanup efforts continue.