A woman took the SUV to the Lake Forest Restaurant on Sunday afternoon, injuring several people and causing serious damage to Inca Grill, a longtime eatery in a shopping centre on Rockfield Boulevard.
The crash occurred around noon. Witnesses say the Toyota RAV4 was slammed into the front of the restaurant, shattering the glass storefront and stuffing barrels into the occupied tables and booths.
“The woman barreled, smashed the glass storefront and crashed the table and booth,” an eyewitness told KTLA.
Footage shot in the aftermath shows a large section of the restaurant’s front has been destroyed, littered with crushed glass, fallen furniture and debris scattered across the dining area. At least a few people were injured in the incident. It includes one woman who witnesses said they were locked under the car.
“Several people were taken away. One of the children arrested his arm, one of the women from the front arrested his knee and amputated him everywhere,” said Kia Rashidian, a bystander who witnessed the crash. “I don’t think the driver knew what had happened. She came out and said, ‘I’m fine’ and we said, ‘Yeah, you’re fine, but you’re in the middle of the restaurant.”
KTLA is waiting for officials to confirm the total number of injuries and the circumstances that led to the crash. Authorities have not yet said whether the driver faces a fee or whether it caused her to lose control of the vehicle.
Inka Grill has been a staple in the Lake Forest community for 27 years. The owner, Anna Scandalos, said she was in the church when they received the crash words. Their immediate concern, she said, is for the safety of customers and staff.
“That’s the most heartbreaking thing most. These people were here to have lunch with their families,” Anna Scandalos told KTLA. “They come just to eat here on their days off, so that’s why my heart sinks. I hope nothing happened to those people.”
The restaurant is expected to remain closed for several months as repairs are being made. Despite the damage, the owners said they are planning to maintain hope and rebuild.
Scandalos added that he is very grateful that no one has ever been seriously injured.
The incident is under investigation.
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