Drunk Driver Crashes Into Restaurant in Concord
On Saturday afternoon in Concord, California, patrons and staff at a local restaurant were startled when a suspected drunk driver crashed a vehicle into the building.
According to law enforcement, the driver drove aggressively through the front windows of the Chicken Time and Kabob Craze restaurant on Meadow Lane. Footage captured from inside the establishment revealed the extent of the damage, as reported by KRON.
Restaurant owner Fraidoon Jamshed described the terrifying scene when the truck barreled through, scattering glass and debris everywhere. “The car jumped up and down, it hit the curb, and then just flew into my store. I had seven or eight people sitting there, and I was behind the counter. Honestly, it’s a miracle that nobody got hurt,” he reflected.
The video shows the truck crashing into the restaurant, and instead of stopping right away, it slowly pushed further inside the seating area, where several customers were present.
Jamshed noted how fast everything transpired, estimating the driver was traveling at speeds between 70 and 80 miles per hour. When the truck eventually came to a stop, he added, “His foot was still on the gas, and we had to open the car and remove his foot from the gas.”
The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI shortly after the incident.
Due to the destruction of a concrete support column, officials have shut down the dining room, which is shared with another venue, Little Thai House. Fortunately, the kitchen, located in a different part of the building, remained functional for takeout and delivery services.
Repair work on the building could extend for several months.
This incident follows another alarming event from the same day, where an alleged drunk driver reportedly struck a group of cyclists in Montclair, resulting in two fatalities. Authorities later located the suspect, 38-year-old Valentin Alberto Rodriguez, who was arrested on various charges related to the crash.
Statistics show that approximately 32 people die each day in drunk driving incidents across the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Enforcement of drunk driving laws has been strengthened over the years, with penalties ranging from fines to jail time. The financial burden for a first-time offense can exceed $10,000 when considering fines and legal fees.
