Restaurant goers forced to take cover when vehicle strikes building
Lawrence- Police were called to the 2300 block of west 31st street around 2 o’clock this afternoon after reports of a vehicle striking the side of El Potro, a Mexican restaurant that opened in January.
Tom Declements and Markas Foster were working on the restaurant’s air compressor when it happened. They were on top of the roof when all of a sudden the building began to shake. They say the truck when about 5 feet into the building. Witnesses say it pushed tables all the way across the building causing those inside to run for their life. Declements and Foster say the driver was peeling out around the building for almost a minute before the accident took place.
The driver is 33-year-old Marcos Hernandez. Police say he was an employee of the restaurant. Officers say he was driving at a high rate of speed when his 1998 black Dodge Dakota struck the building. Police also say alcohol was involved, but he was not over the legal limit. He was cited for reckless driving and not having a valid driver’s license.
No injuries were reported.