Six people from Council Bluffs who were dining at a restaurant were injured Thursday, when a car driven by an elderly Dow City man plowed into the building after his foot become stuck between the car’s brake and accelerator.
According to Council Bluffs Police, 84-year-old Maynard Ohl was attempting to pull into a parking stall at the Golden Corral restaurant at around 1 PM when the incident occurred. The vehicle ran over a parking block, sidewalk and a tree before crashing into the restaurant. Ohl was not hurt in the crash.
The restaurant’s injured patrons ranged from seven-to 82-years of age. Four of the victims were hit by the car’s front bumper and the side of the building after it collapsed upon impact. One of the victims, an 82-year-old female, was found under the vehicle following the crash, but bystanders were able to free her before rescue crews arrived.
A seven-year-old girl who was dining at the restaurant was hit by falling debris, and another patron was knocked backward by the debris as he sat at his table.
No serious injuries were reported. All of the accident victims were from Council Bluffs. Each was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The building sustained 20-thousand dollars damage, and was forced to close after being inspected. Officials say because the accident happened on private property, no citations were issued.