Chaos erupted at a Kingston Papa Johns last Saturday when a truck driven by a 63-year-old man careened into the restaurant, causing injuries and structural damage, as reported by multiple sources. According to WVLT, the Kingston Police Department responded to the incident around 3:45 p.m. on E. Race Street.
The driver, identified by WBIR as Michael Birmley, lost control of his 1996 GMC 1500 after experiencing a "medical situation." Going around a curve, the truck sped up, struck a parked vehicle, hitting another before it went airborne and embedded itself into the pizzeria. A witness managed to turn off the truck amidst the havoc.
Two employees inside the Papa Johns were injured in the crash and received what seemed to be minor injuries, as per the Kingston Police Department's findings. The same report detailed that nearby Club Tan Salon suffered damages due to the resulting flying debris. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The driver was treated on the scene and released, with law enforcement opting not to file charges, attributing the crash to the driver's medical situation.
The aftermath of the crash left the Papa Johns location with "extensive damage," necessitating an immediate closure, as a statement obtained by WATE explained. Investigations into the specifics of the medical situation that precipitated the accident are ongoing, according to police. Meanwhile, the affected businesses will be grappling with repair and recovery, borne from a single moment when a man's health crisis met an unforgiving curve on E. Race Street.
