WASHINGTON — An SUV crashed Friday afternoon into the outside seating region of a preferred Greek restaurant in northwest Washington, D.C., killing two women and injuring at least six some others, 3 of them critically.
Authorities said the incident appeared to be an accident.
“There are no indications that this was intentional,” said 2nd District Police Commander Duncan Bedlion. “We have a cooperative driver. He is keeping with us.”
He explained the driver as an elderly male who misplaced control of the vehicle.
“That element of dropping management is beneath active investigation by our big crash investigations workforce,” Bedlion mentioned.
The accident happened at lunchtime on a heat, sunny working day in the nation’s capital. The restaurant, the Parthenon, is on a chaotic commercial strip with retailers and restaurants, a lot of of which have outside seating. Hearth vans lined the road, which was shut off to targeted visitors and pedestrians.
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Seven patrons of the cafe and 1 employee ended up transported to place hospitals, claimed Hearth and EMS Chief John Donnelly. Law enforcement explained afterwards that two people experienced died, both grownup females.
“We don’t know why it transpired,” Donnelly reported.
As part of the investigation, authorities are looking for video evidence from persons who may well have recorded the incident and are inquiring people who can offer added data to contact them.
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Questioned if fees would be submitted in opposition to the driver, Bedlion claimed that would be portion of the investigation.
Authorities claimed they experienced activated the mass casualty reaction group to make absolutely sure that they experienced the methods on hand to treat the massive variety of individuals.