MIAMI, Fla. – 4 people were injured and are in stable condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital after a vehicle crashed into a restaurant just after 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Miami Fire Rescue’s Lt. Ignatius Carroll said units responded to the Don Camarón Seafood Grill at 501 Northwest 37th Ave. The restaurant is across from the Magic City Casino.
Patrons inside said it sounded like an explosion as the car came barreling through the restaurant and crashed into the side of the business.
According to what witnesses told police, the driver crashed through a fence a block away, went through a field, hit a parked van, then smashed into the restaurant.
Carroll said that when the first crew arrived, there were good Samaritans assisting injured customers.
3 women and the male driver were taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
One of the injured was the driver, who may have suffered a medical emergency, but that has not been confirmed as the investigation is still continuing.
Fire rescue provided medical treatment at the scene to several people from the restaurant, including two young children, under the age of 10, who were in the car, according To Carroll. Those treated did not need to be transported to the hospital, he said.
“We evaluated several people and transported 4 people to the hospital — the driver as well as three adult women. The two children did not need medical attention,” Carroll said.
The van that was hit was not occupied. Carroll said the driver hitting the parked van slowed the vehicle down and lessened the impact when it crashed into the building.
“Had that not happened this could have been a lot worse,” Carroll said.
For now, the building has been deemed unsafe until structural engineers can come in and take a closer look. Until then, the restaurant will remain closed.
Miami Police are now trying to piece together what exactly happened to cause the crash.
(This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Local10.com and Local 10 News at 11 for updates.)