FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have arrested a man on suspicion of driving under the influence after he slammed his SUV into a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, injuring a diner.
7News cameras captured the front entrance of Antojitos Mexicanos, located in a strip mall along the 3900 block of Davie Boulevard, near U.S. 441, covered with plywood, Thursday night.
“It is heartbreaking that this happened to us, but we’re going to keep moving forward, and this is something we’re able to fix,” restaurant manager Agustin Albarran said. “It’s obviously very concerning that the fact that people are continuing to drive under the influence. I mean, that’s the last thing anyone should ever do.”
The driver of the SUV has been identified as 38-year-old Nelson Umana. He appeared before a judge via video call on Friday.
“You’re here today on five separate charges,” said Judge Corey Cawthon. “Count one: alcohol or drugs, first offense.”
It was a chaotic scene hours earlier, when surveillance video captured the SUV careening into the business, then unsuccessfully trying to back out.
Minutes earlier, the video shows the driver pulling into the shopping plaza and slightly jumping the curb of a handicapped parking spot.
“He was crazy. We have never seen this before,” said witness Jaime Diaz.
Before the crash, surveillance video caught the driver getting out of the vehicle, then going in and out of the restaurant several times. He paid for a burrito before he finally tried to leave.
“Instead of being on reverse and trying to get away to Davie and 441, he went inside the restaurant,” said Diaz.
After crashing into Antojitos Mexicanos, the motorist is then seen walking out of the car holding a beer can.
“No one should ever drink and drive. It’s just the worst thing that you could possibly do,” said Albarran.
Diner Luis Lopez said he and his friend were sitting right in the path of the SUV. He said their seats were pushed to the side, and their table flew to the back of the dining room.
“It was only me and the other guy. He got hurt on the leg on the bottom part down here,” Lopez said through a translator.
Responding police officers were seen sorting through alcohol containers and administering a field sobriety test to the driver.
He was later seen being taken away in handcuffs.
For the restaurant’s owners, who had only reopened a month ago, the crash is a blow that they’ll have to work past.
“We’ve had this business open for many, many years, for almost 20 years, so to have this happen to us is very heartbreaking,” said Albarran.
The injured customer is expected to be OK.
The restaurant’s owners said they will remain open while repairs are made.
Umana is being held on $11,500 bond. He was instructed by the judge to have pretrial supervision, avoid driving and submit to random drug and alcohol tests.
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