Hazleton restaurant closed after car crashes into exterior

Sep. 21--HAZLETON -- A sedan crashed into a downtown restaurant just ahead of the weekend, forcing it to close until repairs are made.

More than a dozen people were inside Sazón Latino Restaurant at North Wyoming and West Maple streets when they heard a loud bang and watched a north facing exterior wall come in at them in the dining area Friday afternoon.

Luis Delgado, an employee said he just returned to the business after making a delivery and like most Friday afternoons, the business was booming with customers.

"A few seconds (later), we heard a big explosion," Delgado said.

After noticing it came from outside, customers and employees found a gray Chevrolet Impala had crashed into the building after jumping a curb and sidewalk on West Maple Street.

"Thank God no one was hurt," he continued while expressing concern for the driver, too.

The call for help came in at 2:39 p.m.

Hazleton police and firefighters and a crew from Lehigh Valley EMS assisted the driver of the sedan out of the vehicle after finding his walker.

The man refused a hospital visit and said his brakes failed, Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Jones said.

He turned into the building after driving over the sidewalk, damaging a parking meter and hitting the rear passenger side of a parked white GMC Acadia.

Hazleton police are investigating the circumstances of the collision.

Hazleton code officials were also on scene and condemned the restaurant until the damaged wall is shored up.

The owner of the business was working to notify their insurance company and get a contractor to repair the wall after the wreck so the business didn't lose profit from being closed over the weekend.

It appeared apartments on the second floor of the business weren't damaged.

The restaurant wall was pushed into the business by the impact and brick in the basement foundation was damaged as well.

Ceiling tiles in the restaurant were also damaged.

The crash gained the attention of at least 15 onlookers who collected on the sidewalks to inspect the damage for themselves.

West Maple Street just west of North Wyoming Street was closed to traffic for a time after crash.

No serious injuries were apparent.

The Chevrolet was towed.

Contact the writer: achristman@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3584

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