Monday, November 10, 2008
Driver plows into Starbucks, no injuries
MIAMI (WSVN) -- Police have arrested and charged a man with suspected DUI after he crashed a friend's car into a South Florida coffee shop.
"It was like the movies. All of a sudden you see this car coming and you start running, and the debris comes behind you. I felt like I was in 'Die Hard,'" said Scott Diden.
Diden, like many others, made a dash for it Sunday afternoon when a sport utility vehicle came smashing through the Starbucks on Northeast 69th Street and Biscayne Boulevard. "Everybody ran, and all I could do is get up and run and find my daughter," said Sharon Altfield. "It was very, very scary."
Shattered glass and debris were sent flying inside the coffee shop. "I was extremely, extremely lucky," said Altfield.
The SUV's front windshield was smashed and the wheel was torn off as a result of the impact. The GMC Envoy belonged to Kevin Mallory. He said he had no idea his vehicle had been taken by a friend of his. "I trusted him, and he took my keys, and I was unaware of it. I was asleep and was awaken by the police calling me to let me know that he ran into this building," said Mallory.
After the driver crashed into the front entrance, startling customers and employees, the driver attempted to flee the scene of the accident. "This guy was definitely trying to leave the scene and avoid any responsibility," said Bill Altfield, who witnessed the crash.
Authorities covered up the gaping hole in the store with plywood. Those inside of the coffee shop at the time are thankful the crash wasn't any worse. "You think about so many things in just a split second, 'Oh, my gosh, is this it?' and thank God we're all safe," said Atfield.
With the window boarded up, the Starbucks did re-open sometime Monday morning.
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