Car crashes into restaurant
By John Joyce
Published in News on April 5, 2013 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
A Goldsboro firefighter look at the damages after a car jump the curving and crash into the front of Western Sizzlin' Steak House shortly before lunch Thursday. No one was injured.
The Goldsboro Fire Department, Wayne County EMS and the Goldsboro Police Department met at Western Sizzlin' at 100 N. Berkeley Blvd. just after 11:30 a.m. Thursday, not to dine in, but in response to a vehicle driven into the side of a building.
Audrey Martin Thomas, 75, was unharmed after her Mazda Tribute crashed through the side wall of the restaurant. She was, however, cited for failure to see before stopping. According to the accident report, she meant to step on the break as she pulled into the parking spot in front of the restaurant, but hit the gas instead.
Her vehicle jumped the curb, smashed into the side wall of the building and busted out a window.
"I thought we were getting fragged," customer Earl Mails said.
He and Mary Faison, both of Goldsboro, were just finishing lunch when they heard what sounded like "a bomb going off."
The Vietnam veteran said he almost hit the deck when he heard it.
"I was just finishing up, getting some salad, that's when I heard it," Mails said.
"I was ready to hit the ground."
Cheryl Casey, the new owner of the establishment just took over operations Monday.
"I've worked here 25 years," she said.
"This is third time this has happened."
Her immediate concern was for the safety of her staff and guests, she said, and of course for the driver of the vehicle.
She thought the accident might negatively impact business during lunch, but hoped that a gathering crowd of on-lookers might turn into a hungry drove of customers.
Before the wreckage had been cleared though, she said had already sent a repairman to the hardware store for supplies to get the damage patched up.
An estimate of the amount of damages was not available.