On a busy stretch of Fond du Lac Avenue, dinner service came to a sudden stop Wednesday night when a car crashed into a north-side Milwaukee restaurant, tearing out an exterior gas line and drawing a heavy emergency response.
The collision happened around 8:30 p.m. near 62nd Street and Fond du Lac Avenue. Firefighters, utility crews and Bell Ambulance rushed to the scene to shut off the gas supply and secure the building. Officials had not yet clarified the extent of any injuries.
According to FOX6 Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Fire Department said the vehicle hit the structure and severed an exterior gas line. Fire crews turned off the gas and contacted We Energies to inspect the damage and secure the compromised piping. As of that report, the Milwaukee Police Department had not released information about what caused the crash.
The building houses the drive-thru outpost of Jackson’s Soul Food Redefined Express at 6137 W. Fond du Lac Ave., a former car wash that was converted into a restaurant and touted as a neighborhood investment. TMJ4 previously profiled the renovation and its community role, and city licensing records list the business at that address.
Emergency response and investigation
Firefighters isolated the leak and secured the area while utility crews checked the site for additional hazards and evaluated the damage, according to FOX6 Milwaukee. Milwaukee police remained on scene as investigators assessed structural concerns and safety risks. Officials did not say when repairs might be completed or when the restaurant could reopen.
Neighborhood impact
Jackson’s has been promoted as both a neighborhood employer and a local gathering spot, so the crash quickly drew attention from residents watching the response unfold. Many said they were hoping the damage would be limited and the closure short-lived.
TMJ4 reported that the Fond du Lac location created about 20 jobs when it opened. City officials and representatives for the restaurant did not immediately provide additional comment on Thursday.
The Milwaukee Fire Department provided the initial incident information to FOX6, and the Milwaukee Police Department and We Energies had not released further updates. This remains a developing story, and officials are expected to share more details as the investigation moves forward.
