A driver on Long Island crashed into a historic Quaker meetinghouse early Thursday morning, causing the vehicle to ignite in flames.
The unidentified driver swerved off the road and collided with the Quaker Association Friends Meeting in Manhasset, located in northern Nassau County, shortly before 6 a.m. The vehicle caught fire almost immediately after the crash.
The SUV was registered to a 41-year-old man from New Rochelle, but it remains unclear if he was driving at the time of the incident.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the crash, considering various possibilities, including whether it could have been a targeted attack or even a hate crime.
Arson investigators and bomb squad members were called to assist firefighters and detectives at the scene.
The fire significantly damaged the left side of the historic building, which dates back to 1650, when the structure was initially built. Local colonial Quakers acquired the property in 1703.
This meetinghouse has a notable history, having been burned during the Revolutionary War but rebuilt in the 1800s. It’s also home to Long Island’s oldest and largest oak tree and is listed as a U.S. National Historic Site.
“It’s a special place,” said Dick Lopez, a member of the Quaker community. The space serves not only for religious gatherings but also as a homeschooling center for local Quakers, as well as hosting various arts and cultural programs.
Fire crews from four different departments, including the Manhasset Lakeville Fire Department, responded to the incident alongside firefighters from Port Washington, Plandome, and Great Neck.
