The driver of a Nissan Maxima took off “like a rocket” and died this morning when he crashed through a Manhasset auto body shop, witnesses said.

After speeding westbound on Northern Boulevard, missing a bend in the road and colliding with park benches, garbage pails and other vehicles, the middle-aged man’s car flew into the E. Shore Rd. business at 8:27 a.m., witnesses said.

Nassau detectives are at the scene investigating, authorities said.

Miraculously, Body Works Unlimited owner Michael LaRocca, 45 — who opens the shop at that time — arrived late, likely sparing his life, he said.

“It was a close call,” LaRocca told The Post. “I just woke up late.”

“I’m kind of lucky to be here,” he added.

When he finally arrived at work the street looked like a war zone.

“It was chaos,” he said. “It looked like a bomb when off in my shop. All of my windows were broken and the car was sticking out of the garage front door.”

Matt Moran, 75, said he saw an airborne car approaching and lurched his vehicle forward frightened that it would crash into the front driver’s side. The Maxima hit the rear of his vehicle, he said.

Afterwards, Moran said, the Maxima made it’s fatal stop at the shop.

“The driver died. He was flying like 90 miles an hour. He was flying, like a rocket,” he said.

People emerged from their vehicles to see if anyone needed help, but were afraid to approach the mangled Maxima.

“We thought the car was going to explode,” he said.