Crash At Jumbos Restaurant Kills Two

LIBERTY CITY (CBSMiami) - Two men were killed when the driver of a pick-up truck lost control and crashed in front of a popular Liberty City eatery.

The four-car crash happened at Jumbo's Restaurant on NW 7th Ave. and NW 75th St. Saturday night.

Witnesses said it all happened very quickly.

"It was coming like a bullet and they couldn't react," witness Demetrius Allen said. "We heard the car coming northbound, look like it was going 100. Look like he was trying to make this sharp turn."

Witness Linda Sippio was in her car when the white pick-up truck collided with another vehicle, which then slammed into the front of the restaurant.  Wilton Harris, 60, who was a local pastor, and Al Jo Hamlin who were standing outside the restaurant were killed.  There were 11 patrons at the restaurant at the time. No one else was injured.  Harris had reported just come from a funeral.

"I saw the white truck kind of careen down here," Sippio said. "It was going at full speed but it seemed to accelerate right here right as it got up under the light.

Miami Police were investigating the crash.

"He lost control of the vehicle. He hit the black vehicle at which time we had 2 patrons standing outside," Miami Police Sgt. Keandra Simmons said. "He ran in to the patrons and killed both of them simultaneously."

Allen said he pulled two people from the car's path.

"If it wasn't for me snatching Ken and the other gentlemen, they would have been stuck under that car," Allen said.

Jumbo's sustained significant structural damage. It's unclear how long it will remain closed.

"This is a landmark, Jumbo's. It's been here a number of years and it is patronized by quite a few people," Sippio said. I don't know that there's anything of this caliber to ever happen there."

The driver of the white pick-up truck was not seriously injured. He was detained by police for questioning. An investigation will determine of alcohol, drugs or a medical event of some sort were factors in the crash.