Caroline Tucker
WMAL.com
MCLEAN – (WMAL) A Silver Diner employee has been fired after his employer says he crashed his Hummer into the Tysons Center location in McLean.
Matilde Ott, a spokesperson for Silver Diner, says the man was let go after the incident.
Fairfax County Police were called to the scene after the SUV slammed into the diner and then burst into flames.
Sgt. Roger Henriquez says the Hummer hit several pedestrians in that crash, just after 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
“All of a sudden we heard something that sounded like a gunshot. And there was a lot of panic inside the restaurant. People saying run to the back door or get under tables,” said Robin Gardner, a witness.
Police say four people were injured, including the driver.
They say three people were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Gardner says she saw some of the injured.
“One being the driver of the car. The other being a gentleman who was apparently pinned by the Hummer to the wall,” said Gardner.
Gardner says it appeared that the driver slammed into the restaurant and then backed up and tried it again.
Police are trying to find out what caused the crash.
“We are still trying to determine if this was an unintentional act or if it was anything else other than that,” said Sgt. Henriquez
Fairfax County Fire officials say most of the fire damage was contained to the front of the restaurant and the owners should be able to make repairs.
Ott says their main concern is for the families and employees affected by the crash.
“As you can imagine we are all shocked and saddened by today’s incident. The employees are doing the best that they can under the circumstances,” said Ott.
Ott says they will meet with employees tomorrow and will have grief counselors available to talk with workers.
Copyright 2016 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Robin Gardner)
