A woman drove her SUV into a Lake Forest restaurant on Sunday afternoon, injuring several people and causing extensive damage to the long-standing eatery, Inka Grill, located in a shopping center off Rockfield Blvd.
The crash occurred around noon, when witnesses say a Toyota RAV4 slammed into the front of the restaurant, shattering the glass storefront and barreling into occupied tables and booths.
“The woman came barreling through, shattering the glass storefront, crashing tables and booths,” a witness told KTLA.
Footage taken in the aftermath shows a large section of the restaurant’s front destroyed, with shattered glass, toppled furniture, and debris scattered across the dining area. At least several people were injured in the incident, including one woman who witnesses said became pinned beneath the vehicle.
“Multiple people got taken away. One of the kids busted his arm, and one of the ladies from the front busted her knee and had cuts everywhere,” said Kia Rashidian, a bystander who witnessed the crash. “The driver, I think, had no clue what happened. She came out and said ‘I’m fine,’ and we were like, ‘Yeah, you’re okay, but you’re in the middle of a restaurant.’”
KTLA is awaiting confirmation from officials on the total number of injuries and the circumstances that led to the crash. Authorities have not yet said whether the driver will face charges or what may have caused her to lose control of the vehicle.
The Inka Grill has been a staple in the Lake Forest community for 27 years. The owner, Anna Scandalos, said she was at church when they received word of the crash. Their immediate concern, she said, was for the safety of their customers and staff.
“That’s what’s most heartbreaking of all, that these people were coming here to have lunch with their families,” Anna Scandalos told KTLA. “They come from all over just to have a meal here on their day off. That’s why my heart sinks. I hope that nothing happened to any of those people.”
The restaurant is expected to remain closed for several months as repairs are made. Despite the damage, the owners said they remain hopeful and plan to rebuild.
Scandalos added that she feels incredibly grateful that no one was seriously hurt so far.
The incident remains under investigation.