LEWISTON — An SUV struck the Golden City restaurant at 20 East Ave. Monday evening, reportedly injuring the driver and an employee and causing extensive damage to the kitchen, police said.
According to Lewiston police, driver Bibiacha Bayidika, 39, of Lewiston, was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Her injuries were not immediately known.
There was at least one passenger, but it was unclear Tuesday night how many people were taken to the hospital. Police and fire officials said a language barrier hindered their investigation.
An employee was reportedly burned by hot oil. Further details were not available Monday night.
Co-owner Cindy Cheung said employees heard a loud “boom” and everything started falling around them.
Grills and other kitchen equipment were ripped from their fixtures when the front of the Ford Explorer struck the cement wall. The bumper and headlights of the vehicle were embedded in a hole that pushed the concrete bricks into the kitchen. A cooler was knocked over, water covered the floor and metal from a grill and hood vent were heaped in the middle of the kitchen floor.
Gary Bell, a service technician from Unitil, said there was no gas leak, adding that owner Pei Yeung impressed him by having the good sense to immediately turn off the gas and water on the outside of the building when mains were broken from the impact.
Although they have insurance, the two restaurant owners were upset about the damage to the kitchen and the possibility of losing their business.
Susan Reny, an inspector for the state, officially closed the restaurant until further notice.
The driver was insured, police said.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
