CLEVELAND — A 24-year-old was rushed to the hospital after Cleveland police say he lost control and crashed through the front of a popular Ohio City restaurant.
Emergency responders were called to Gehring Avenue around 3 a.m. Thursday right around the block from the West Side Market.
When police arrived, they found people screaming for help and the driver’s black Audi wedged into the front of Jaja Steakhouse.
Authorities believe the car was racing down Abbey Avenue when the driver lost control and hit a fire hydrant before striking the building.
The car was heavily damaged after police say it crashed through a wall and into a staircase and vault.
Cleveland police confirmed that speed is a factor, and they said the car was not stolen.
The 24-year-old driver was transported to the hospital in serious but stable condition.
News 5 followed investigators as they carefully worked to tow the car from the restaurant.
Authorities believe the elevator is a total loss and the restaurant's upstairs will be closed due to smoke damage from the car briefly being on fire.
Residents in the neighboring apartments, “Intro Cleveland” —which connects to the restaurant—heard alarms going off and felt their building shake.
"I heard a huge crash and we heard someone scream, call 911. So we ran downstairs and there was a big group of people pulling a man out of this wreckage and we noticed obviously the big car in the, in the building," said Lizzy Alley.
Alley said a small fire started after the crash. Gehring Avenue remains closed as crews work to clean up the accident site.
Jaja Steakhouse released a statement via Instagram that announced the restaurant will be closed indefinitely. It also encouraged customers to go to Edda Coffe in the meantime.
Stay with News 5 for the breaking developments and watch Good Morning Cleveland for live coverage.
