By Matthew Monks
Eight seventh graders from IS 230 and their bus driver were taken to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital with minor injuries from the crash at 6:50 a.m. at the intersection of 103 Street and 37th Avenue, police said. The driver of the car, Julio Quezada, 42, of 133-33 128th St. in South Ozone Park, – who also suffered minor injuries – was charged with driving under the influence, third-degree assault and driving through a red light, according to the criminal complaint filed in Queens Criminal Court. Quezada blew a red light and slammed into the driver's side of the bus, which went careening through the security gate of the Latino Supermarket at 103-01 37th Ave., the complaint said. Quezada, who had to be cut out of the driver's seat of his Mazda, had bloodshot eyes and alcohol on his breath, the complaint said, adding that he admitted to downing three beers. Shop owner Simon Espinal, 50, of Flushing, said this was the second time in two years that a vehicle had crashed through his storefront. Now he is thinking of putting up large flower pots to protect the entrance. “You feel like crying – I'm telling you,” said Espinal, who had returned from his mother's funeral in the Dominican Republic Sunday. He said his shop would probably be closed for several weeks and he did not know how he would pay for the repairs because his insurance does not cover outside damages. The bus destroyed the roll-down security gate and front door. Espinall was on his way to the shop when the accident happened and said he was lucky the store was closed. “If somebody was inside they were going to be hurt,” he said. Luis Alvear, 13, who lives in an apartment on the top of the three-story building, said the crash woke him up.”I was sleeping then the house started to shake,” he said. “I thought the house was going down because it was too old.”He said his mother was unnerved by a vehicle hitting the building for a second time. “My mom says we're going to move soon because she's scared,” Alvear said. Reach reporter Matthew Monks at news@timesledger.com or 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
