DRIVE-THROUGH: A 62-year-old female driver rammed her luxury SUV through the front entrance of a Dunkin’ Donuts in Needham yesterday afternoon, sending herself and three people to the hospital with minor injuries. Photo by Angela Rowlings
Joe Dwinell and Jennifer Bello report in the Boston Herald that a 62-year-old driver blasted a hole in a Needham Dunkin’ Donuts yesterday when she lost control of her luxury SUV, smashing the front entrance and sending employees and patrons diving for cover.
“We were lucky employees didn’t get seriously hurt,” said store owner Fernando Fernandes. “She came right through the front window.”
Fernandes said he won’t be able to reopen until tomorrow at the earliest. “We’re cleaning up now,” he added. “We’re just lucky.”
Police said four people were injured yesterday after the Sherborn driver drove her Lexus SUV through the front of the Chestnut Street coffee shop at 12:45 p.m. The driver has yet to be named.
“The vehicle went through the front part of the building, the front entrance,” said Needham Deputy Fire Chief Al DeIulio.
He said there was structural damage to the shop.
Officials said a woman walking out of the Dunkin’ Donuts was injured and an employee inside was also injured, police report.
The others with injuries were the driver and her passenger, police said. All those injured were transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Needham with minor injuries, police said.
Police are still investigating the accident along with state police and no charges have been announced.
Needham police Lt. Christopher Baker said state police are still trying to determine what triggered the mid-day surprise crash. He added texting or a cell phone was not immediately suspected.
The car was towed away at about 3 p.m.
State police said last night they are assisting Needham police, who are the lead agency in the crash probe.
