Man Charged With DWI After Crashing Through Melville Restaurant

Photos by Steve Silverman

A West Babylon man was arrested after his SUV crashed through the front of a Chinese restaurant in Melville on Wednesday night, authorities said.

John Shepard, 59, was charged with driving while intoxicated after he rear-ended a car on Walt Whitman Road and then drove through the window of Gourmet Wok, located near Schwab Road, at 10:20 p.m., police said.

The vehicle caused significant damage to the glass window and frame of the restaurant. Two employees inside the restaurant at the time of the crash were unharmed from the incident.

The man and woman in the vehicle that Shepard rear-ended did not suffer any injuries, police said.

The Town of Huntington Building Inspector and Melville Fire Department responded to the crash.

About 25 firefighters and rescue personnel were at the scene with fire engines, ambulances, a heavy rescue truck and responder units, which were under the direction of Chief Mike McKeefrey and Assistant Chiefs Paul Mahler and Chris Nolan.