A mother and son are in the hospital after a car slammed into a Willimantic restaurant Wednesday afternoon. A third person, the driver, received minor injuries.
The Peking House Restaurant at 1601 Main Street is in shambles after a Subaru hit a parked car and barreled through the front window around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
The restaurant manager said Sarah Buskey and her 12-year-old son, Joe, were struck while eating dinner in the front booth.
Buskey was airlifted to Hartford Hospital, where she is in critical condition. Joe was taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center, where he is recovering from moderate injuries, police said.
Police said a third person was transported to Windham Community Memorial Hospital.
“I am a nervous wreck,” said Buskey's cousin, Jennifer White. “She takes her son everywhere. Her son is her world."
Witnesses said the driver lost control in the parking lot of the Willimantic Plaza Shopping Center and clipped a sedan before slamming into the restaurant.
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“I’m still scared right now,” said restaurant owner Linda Ling. She was hit in the face with shattered glass when the out-of-control Subaru struck her two customers.
“I just ran away. I don’t know what happened,” Ling said. She and other restaurant employees cleaned up debris for hours and tried to salvage what was left.
Police are investigating to determine the cause of the crash. As of Wednesday night, they did not believe alcohol was a factor, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Willimantic Police Department at 860-465-3135 ext. 240.
