3 injured when car crashes through Massachusetts diner

Three people suffered injuries after a car crashed into a Massachusetts restaurant on Oct. 30. The accident occurred just before 6 a.m. at a diner on North Main Street in South Deerfield when a car that was traveling on Sugarloaf Street left the roadway and struck the building.

The vehicle reportedly struck one of the diner’s exterior walls and destroyed a bay window before traveling partially into the restaurant, striking the counter where some customers were eating. Two people at the counter attempted to jump out of the vehicle’s path. The owner of the diner said that he could see the car approaching and that the driver, a 29-year-old Northfield woman, attempted to back away from the building after the impact.

Two people inside the restaurant suffered minor injuries. One of the customers had a bruised hip and the other had cuts on his leg. The 29-year-old woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Paramedics transported her to Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield.

A South Deerfield building inspector said that evidence at the scene indicated that the woman was traveling at about 70 mph before the impact. A police spokesperson said that officers charged the driver with driving while under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for a stop sign and failure to inspect a motor vehicle.

While drunk drivers might face legal consequences for their negligence, victims may choose to file suit in civil court against the drivers responsible for their injuries if they wish to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. A personal injury attorney could provide legal advice and other services to victims of drunk driving accidents.

Source: Gazette.com, “Driver arrested after car crashes through front window of Jerry’s Place in South Deerfield,” Tom Relihan, Oct. 31, 2014

Source: WGGB, “Car Crashes Into Restaurant in South Deerfield, 3 People Hurt”, Kelsey Thibodeau, October 30, 2014