She was on the road beside the restaurant traveling in the lane opposite of the blue pickup seen in the photos. There is a median between that truck an a lane, and there is another median she crossed just out of view of the picture.
She ran through one median, hit another median, become airborne, went through three small trees in another median, and landed in the parking lot where the car skidded a ways before striking the pole.
Two of Joshua's and Caleb's co-workers were working outside helping take/deliver orders through the second drive through lane. The car went very close to where the teens were standing. Police said a few feet further, and the teen girls would have been struck and caught between the car and a concrete barricade. The three trees altered the car's course and helped keep them safe. One of the young ladies was so shaken, she went home to be with her family.
Police arrived very quickly because several other people had reported she was driving recklessly 20 minutes earlier.
The driver still had her accelerator depressed, but, thankfully, the drive shaft had broken so the car could not move. They could hear her racing the engine inside the restaurant over the running equipment. In other words, regardless of the objects she hit, she would have kept traveling if her car was drivable. She didn't even realize how bad the wreck was. I am so thankful no one else was injured.
The driver was still smoking her cigarette when helped arrived. She could not understand instructions to put it out. A paramedic quickly grabbed it out of her hand and extinguished it because of the leaking gas which is covered in kitty litter in the pictures. The driver was taken to the hospital for neck pain, but we do not know how serious the injuries are.
Police asked her if she had been drinking. She indicated she had. They asked her how much. She said she lost count. They asked her when did she stop drinking. She said, "Right when you pulled me over, officer." Police said she was doing 68 mph through the parking lot.
My children walk through that lot and the surrounding area a few times each work day. I am very thankful they and their co-workers were not harmed.
Caleb will have to make repairs and will need be there to assist the workers who will have to replace the light.
The driver is the mother of a girl who works there. The driver clearly has a substance problem. Her husband had just argued with her about her drinking and had poured her stash out. She rebelled by going out to buy more alcohol. This was her 4th DUI. Her husband is in law enforcement, and this reflects badly on him. Please pray with our family that she gets the help she needs and is very receptive to that help.
