Michael Burstein told the TAB he and his wife were standing at the corner of Stedman and Harvard streets shortly before 5 p.m. when a car came flying by at 55 to 60 miles per hour, heading toward Beacon Street.
"A few seconds later, we heard an enormous crash -- a tremendous boom -- emanating from Coolidge Corner. Then we saw smoke and flames," Burstein said.
They headed in the direction of the crash scene, where, within two or three minutes Burstein estimated, Brookline emergency personnel had arrived, locked everything down and began battling flames.
"Brookline emergency services personnel were amazing," he said.
"It was really a frightening moment," Burstein added.
(ETA: Nomi and I both took photos; they can be found on the Brookline TAB blog at (More) Breaking News)
