Car slams into Oakland auto body shop in chain-reaction crash
OAKLAND, Calif. - A car swerving to avoid another vehicle plowed into and seriously damaged an auto-body shop in Oakland's San Antonio neighborhood.
"Our building's completely damaged, so I have to tear down. I have to rebuild it," said Enoch Shin, an owner of Turbo Auto Body near 18th Avenue and International Boulevard.
The crash happened at about 8:20 p.m. Tuesday when a woman driving a Honda Civic east on International - illegally in the bus lane - moved to avoid a minivan apparently making a U-turn in front of her, authorities said.
"Honda Civic lose control, hit our building," Shin said.
The minivan hits the Honda, which then careens into the auto body shop, causing the roof of the business to collapse.
The woman in the Honda was hurt and treated by paramedics.
The driver of the minivan completed the U-turn and left the scene. Oakland police traffic officers are investigating and police have been keeping tabs on the shop.
At the time of the crash, the business was closed, and about 12 cars in the garage were not damaged.
But Shin says he's concerned about his staff because his business has been red-tagged and PG&E has shut off power.
"I need the power back soon as possible, otherwise 28 people, they have to stay home, they lose job," Shin said.
Shin also says the city is to blame for reducing International Boulevard to one lane for vehicles and turning the other lane into bus-only traffic.
"Bus lane cause a lot of accidents, and high speed. They driving, 60, 70 miles (per hour)," Shin said.
Shin and his family have run the business for 32 years. Now they're not sure what the future will bring.
Shin's nephew, Luke Shin said, "It's just a crap situation for everyone. There's no words how your family comes here with nothing, builds up a huge business and just like that, it's just taken away."
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan