Driver arrested after fleeing scene of Baldwin church crash

A car crashed into Second Baptist Church at 4:25 a.m. on Sunday.

Brian Croce/Herald

The 2008 Infinti G35 hit a tree, parking sign and fence before the front of the church.

Brian Croce/Herald

A massive hole was left in the church once the car was removed.

Brian Croce/Herald

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The driver of a vehicle that slammed into Second Baptist Church in Baldwin early Sunday morning fled the scene, police said.

At 4:25 a.m., a 2008 Infiniti G35 traveling southbound on Grand Avenue jumped the curb and hit a tree, a parking sign, a fence and ultimately, the main entrance to Second Baptist Church.

Sherif T. Wheeler, 21, of Baldwin, was arrested on Sunday and charged with leaving the scene of an incident with injury and operating a motor vehicle by an unlicensed driver. A male passenger, 20, was transported in a private vehicle to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the accident. Wheeler surrendered to detectives at the First Precinct. He did not suffer any injuries.

Wheeler will be arraigned on Monday, March 9, 2015 at First District Court in Hempstead.