Early yesterday morning, a car crashed into the first floor of a high-rise, striking the Jaja Steakhouse in Ohio City, disrupting the peaceful sleep of residents with the violent rumble of impact and blaring alarms. The incident occurred just after 3 a.m. at 2050 Gehring Avenue, a location known for housing the modern, Argentinian-inspired Jaja, which opened in 2022 under a retractable glass roof. The restaurant is now grappling with extensive damage after a black Audi, driven by a 24-year-old male, reportedly lost control and barreled into the building's facade.
Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, where they discovered civilians attempting to aid the injured driver, as per the account from News 5 Cleveland. Racing down Abbey Avenue prior to the crash, the vehicle first struck a fire hydrant, then the restaurant, leaving a fire hydrant dented in its wake as it wedged into the establishment. "I heard a huge crash and we heard someone scream, call 911. So we ran downstairs and there was a big group of people pulling a man out of this wreckage and we noticed obviously the big car in the, in the building," resident Lizzy Alley told News 5 Cleveland, detailing the immediate aftermath and ensuing small fire.
The driver was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, according to Cleveland19. Cleveland Police are investigating the accident, and initial findings suggest that speed contributed. They have confirmed that the car involved was not stolen.
While the driver remains hospitalized, the incident has stopped the usual bustle around Jaja and the adjacent apartment complex, "Intro Cleveland." As crews worked to extricate the vehicle from the damaged building, Gehring Avenue was closed to facilitate cleanup operations. The property sustained significant structural damage, including an elevator and staircase that authorities believe is now a total loss, as stated by News 5 Cleveland. The upstairs of the restaurant will remain closed due to smoke damage.
