City driver strikes two buildings in bizarre mishap

The Dodge Dakota into an abandoned building, the second of two buildings struck. (Rochester Police photos)

ROCHESTER - A Rochester motorist was injured when he crashed his vehicle into not one but two buildings on Wednesday in a bizarre incident on Winter Street.

Rochester Police responded to a report around 10:40 a.m. for a vehicle into a house.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2000 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by Zhi Y. Chen, 69, of Rochester, was backing out from a parking area across from 89 Winter St. when he backed across Winter Street and into the residence of 89 Winter St. He then reportedly put the vehicle in drive and accelerated forward through the parking area he was originally in and drove straight into a second structure, an abandon building.

Chen was transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries.

Damage to the house at 89 Winter St. from Wednesday's accident.

Luckily, no one was home at 89 Winter St. at the time of the accident. Rochester Code Enforcement also responded to the scene to assess the damage to both buildings. It does not appear the homeowners will need to be displaced, and the abandoned building had no major structural damage, officials said.

Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be factors. The accident remains under investigation.