It’s the last thing you expect to happen when you’re out to lunch on an ordinary workday in the Big Apple, but eight diners at the Hell’s Kitchen branch of Westville, a Manhattan mini-chain, were injured when a yellow cab jumped the curb today and plowed into the restaurant around 12:30. Fortunately, none of the injuries was life-threatening. According to New York ABC affiliate WABC, five of the injured parties were taken to the hospital, while the remaining three refused medical aid.
The crash left behind quite a mess in front of the restaurant, including a mangled bike that responders had to pry from under the cab.
Eyewitnesses say the delivery man who rides the bike had just hopped off minutes earlier, and another witness said the crash happened because the cab was trying to maneuver around another car and lost control.
Law enforcement corroborate that, but the cabbie — who stayed behind at the scene — claims he was hit from behind by another vehicle, which caused him to lose control and swerve into the restaurant.
Whatever happened, there’s no doubt the outcome could have been much worse.
Westville Hell’s Kitchen is on Ninth Avenue at 53rd Street.
