Employee hurt as car crashes into bank in Lindenhurst; others sustain minor injuries

Suffolk County Police First Precinct Patrol Officers responded to a call regarding a two-car accident which resulted in one of the vehicles crashing into a Washington Mutual Bank in North Lindenhurst and injuring four people.

On January 10, 2006, at approximately 7:40 p.m., Jennifer Kushmock, age 35, of 410 18th Street, West Babylon, was driving her 1996 Nissan SUV northbound on North Wellwood Avenue in North Lindenhurst when Josephine Reres, age 57, of 28 Sherbrooke Road, Lindenhurst, pulled out of the Mobil gas station onto Wellwood Avenue in her 2003 Ford SUV. The two vehicles collided causing the driver of the Ford to lose control of his vehicle and crash into the Washington Mutual Bank located at 655 North Wellwood Avenue, North Lindenhurst.

As the vehicle entered the bank, a cleaning service worker, Francesca Bonilla, age 47, who was working inside the building, was struck and suffered two broken legs. She was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment.

Both drivers and the passenger in the Ford SUV, Nicole Peres, age 25, received minor injuries in the accident. They were also treated at Good Samaritan Hospital. A dog that was riding in the Ford was uninjured.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.