Car smashes into Merrick Avenue Middle School

On Wednesday afternoon, students and staff at Merrick Avenue Middle School were shaken up when a vehicle blazed through a locked gate and collided with the side of the building.

The vehicle was moving extremely fast, and the driver had to be extricated from the car, according to witnesses. Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District officials said that the man was taken to a local hospital for injuries, but had no further information on his condition.

No students or staff were injured.

There was some damage to the side of the school building, but officials said school opened at the regular time, with no disruptions on Thursday.

"This is what we know," said Superintendent John DeTommaso at Wednesday's board of education meeting. "The driver is not a parent, not from the area. He drove through the fence, lost control, went straight into the side of the building and ended up at the side entrance. There were no students or staff injured in any shape or form, and we are thankful for that."

The crash remains under investigation by Nassau County police, and the Herald will update this story if more information becomes available.

"It's something that's tragic but we have to be thankful," DeTommaso said. "Any other time of day and it's a much different situation."