Man Crashes Car Into Valentino's, Orders Pizza

By: Amber Smith & Cassie Anderson Email

Updated: Thu 4:34 AM, Jan 10, 2013

"Typically that lobby does have a number of people in it here for the lunch hour. Thankfully for some reason today, nobody that was in there got injured." - Lincoln Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Leo Benes

A Lincoln Valentino's restaurant became a drive-thru when an elderly man crashed his car through the front door and then ordered a pizza.

The man drove his white Honda Fit, which has a Holt County license plate, into the restaurant located near 70th & Vine Streets Wednesday just after 11:30 a.m.

"All of a sudden we hear this huge crash, and it almost sounded like plastic just dropping everywhere," said Don Brouse, who was eating lunch next door at Honest Abe's when the crash happened. "We didn't know what it was. We went outside and we just saw this car trying to pick up pizza I guess."

The woman who called 911 and Lincoln Fire and Rescue said the driver ordered the pizza while he was waiting for emergency crews to arrive.

According to LFR, the driver's foot got stuck on the accelerator.

"He wasn't too upset about it but it sure was a surprise to us," said Brouse. "He seemed very calm and collected. I was amazed. I would be freaking out!"

According to Lincoln Fire and Rescue, the driver was taken to the hospital just as a precaution.

Lincoln Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Leo Benes said he's thankful everyone inside the building is okay.

"Typically that lobby does have a number of people in it here for the lunch hour," said Benes. "Thankfully for some reason today, nobody that was in there got injured."

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