NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - The driver of a truck has been cited after his pickup truck slammed into a Northwest Miami-Dade fast food restaurant.
The Church’s Chicken along Northwest 79th Street and 21st Avenue remained closed on Friday in the wake of the previous night’s crash.
7News cameras captured employees clearing out inventory in the back, as they try to come up with a plan to reopen.
Cellphone video posted online by Only in Dade captured the immediate aftermath of the crash.
Jimmy Johnson said he lost control of his vehicle and careened into the restaurant, at around 8 p.m., Thursday.
“It happened so fast,” he said. “My thought was, ‘I hope that I did not hit nobody.'”
7News cameras showed the damage to one side of the building.
Johnson, an 80-year-old Vietnam War veteran, said he was turning when he was confronted by another car.
“He jumped in the outside lane when I turned,” he said. “He jumped in the outside lane and sped up, so to avoid hitting him, I had to come through to miss him.”
Johnson hit a fire hydrant and careened through the small parking lot before he crashed into the Church’s Chicken, making a mess in the kitchen.
Customers and employees had to quickly get out of harm’s way.
“I just looked up, and I jumped out the way,” said one witness.
“We heard screeching. It sounded like it was coming from right there, but when we heard the screeching, it didn’t feel like it was gonna run into the building,” said Carlito, an employee, “so when it came and ran into the building, it was just like a movie to me. It was just like something you see in a movie.”
Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.
Miami-Dade Police cited the driver for the incident.
Miami-Dade County Code Compliance was also on the scene to check the structural integrity of the building.
After inspecting the damage, the county deemed the building unsafe.
Friday afternoon, the damage to the side of the restaurant was seen covered with plywood.
Officials continue to investigate.
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