Several people were hurt Monday afternoon as bricks and glass went flying after a car crashed into the front of a busy Center City Burger King, officials said.
The crash happened around 2:36 p.m. at the restaurant at 8th and Market -- across the street from Market East, according to Philadelphia Police.
Witnesses saw an unidentified elderly driver leave a parking lot across 8th Street from the restaurant when he, for some reason, allegedly lost control of his maroon sedan and plowed into the restaurant, according to authorities.
"He just stopped in enough time so that he didn't hit me," Ruth Humphrey who was injured in the crash said.
Seven people were taken to local hospitals -- one in serious condition, police said.
Of the injured, everyone but the driver was inside the Burger King at the time of the crash.
The sedan had handicap plates. An older man -- reportedly the driver -- could be seen being helped from the vehicle, going into the trunk to get his walker and walking away from the scene. He was later sitting outside the scene of the wreck before being put on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.
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Witnesses say they had to jump out of the way of the car as it suddenly ran up on the curb and into the fast food joint.
No word was immediately given on an exact cause of the crash.
Roads surrounding the scene were backed up as 8th Street was shutdown so authorities could investigate the scene. The building remained structurally sound and should be able to open for business Tuesday, authorities said.
The car was finally pulled out of the building a little after 6 p.m.
But the shock of the whole event stuck with the victims especially Johnny Payne who says he had to be rescued with the Jaws of Life.
"I just thank god that I was alive," Payne said.
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