A quiet stretch of East Livingston Avenue turned chaotic early Saturday when a car tore through a concrete barrier and into a Driving Park restaurant just before 2:30 a.m., leaving one person in critical condition and drawing a large emergency response.
Scene and response
Columbus police say officers were called to East Livingston Avenue near Rhoads Avenue shortly before 2:30 a.m., where they found a vehicle that had demolished a concrete barrier and slammed into a business. One person was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition as investigators began piecing together what led to the crash, according to WSYX.
Storefront hit
Photos and a gallery published by MyFOX28 identify the restaurant as Brothers Chicken & Fish. MapQuest lists the business at 1808 E. Livingston Ave. The images show a heavily damaged front entrance and a busted concrete barrier at the edge of the sidewalk, evidence of a high-impact collision into the popular neighborhood spot.
A pattern across the city
This latest crash slots into a troubling streak of vehicles slamming into storefronts around central Ohio. Earlier this year, a van struck the Italian Village restaurant Mezcla and caused significant damage, forcing a temporary closure and raising fresh concerns about pedestrian and business safety, according to WCMH.
Investigation ongoing
Officers at the scene on East Livingston said they were still working to determine what led up to the crash and that investigators remained on site into the early morning hours, WSYX reports. Authorities did not immediately say whether a medical issue, impairment, or any other factor might be involved, or if charges could be on the table.
No additional details about the person in critical condition had been released as of early morning, and it was not yet clear when Brothers Chicken & Fish might reopen as damage is assessed. This story will be updated as police or the business release more information.
