Chiropractor Concerned for Employees, Patients After Driver Crashes into Railroad Ave Practice

Late Tuesday morning, Greenwich Police, Greenwich Fire Dept, and GEMS responded to 282 Railroad Avenue, after a 1996 Mercedes Benz S420 sedan crashed into a medical office building that is home to SportsPlus Physical Therapy and Chiropractic.

The driver crossed the parking lot behind the building that is home to Bella Nonna, Pure Barre and Canoe restaurant, and crashed through the brick wall and picture window of the medical practice, which is in a separate building at the rear corner of the property.

SportsPlus Physical Therapy and Chiropractic at 282 Railroad Ave. Contributed photo

According to Greenwich Police Lt John Slusarz, the driver was a 92-year-old man. Slusarz said people in the medical office building were injured, though he described their injuries as not serious.

“The car was traveling through the parking lot when it left the travel portion and struck the building,” Slusarz said. “A natural gas line was damaged when the car struck the building causing the immediate area to be evacuated as a precaution.”

On Thursday morning, the founder of SportsPlus Physical Therapy and Chiropractic, Dr. Paolo Pirani, who lives locally with his young family, said he was in Europe on Tuesday when the crash took place. He flew back to the US immediately.

“I’m mainly concerned about my patients and employees,” he said. “They are in shock. They are very impacted. But, also, they need to be paid.”

Dr. Pirani said the damage was worse than he had imagined when he first learned about the crash, but hoped the building would be deemed structurally sound.

“The receptionist was pinned against her desk when the car came through, and the physical therapist helped pull her out,” Dr. Pirani explained.

Pirani explained that typically there are five employees in the office, but on Tuesday, there were only three – two physical therapists and a receptionist.

“If the other woman who works in the front was there, she would not have made it,” he said. “I was imagining the daily routine. It was just luck that person was not there. I’m still processing everything.”

“It could have really been a tragedy. It’s a miracle there were no patients there. The other two workers are in shock,” Dr. Pirani said. “I met with the receptionist this morning and she was shaking even though the crash was two days ago.”

Dr. Pirani said his practice has been located at 282 Railroad Ave for five years, and that he hopes to resume operating his practice in that space again.

“I’m already looking at other spaces,” he said. “The situation is not going to get resolved any time soon. Several insurers are involved.”

“I can’t just not work, and we need to provide patients the treatment they need,” he continued, adding that patients can leave a voicemail: (203) 661-3444.

Greenwich Police Lt Slusarz said the incident is under investigation.

Sadly, this crash is not unique. In October 2020, a driver crashed through the rear of Oriental Gourmet at 214 Sound Beach Ave in Old Greenwich. In December 2020, a driver later identified as Devon Dalio crashed into the Verizon building at Riverside Commons and lost his life.

SportsPlus Physical Therapy and Chiropractic at 282 Railroad Ave. Contributed photo
SportsPlus Facebook page.
Photo: Greenwich Fire Dept Facebook page. July 12, 2022
SportsPlus Physical Therapy and Chiropractic at 282 Railroad Ave. Contributed photo
“Unfit for Human Occupancy” sign at 282 Railroad Ave, home to SportsPlus Physical Therapy and Chiropractic. Contributed photo
SportsPlus Physical Therapy and Chiropractic at 282 Railroad Ave. Contributed photo
SportsPlus Physical Therapy and Chiropractic at 282 Railroad Ave. Contributed photo
SportsPlus Physical Therapy and Chiropractic at 282 Railroad Ave. Contributed photo