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Several Injured When Car Smashes Into Sushi Restaurant

SUNRISE (CBSMiami) – Several people were injured Thursday when a car smashed into the front of a sushi restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale.

The car crashed into Heart Rock Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, located at 1970 E Sunrise Boulevard.

Four people inside the restaurant at the time were injured as a result of the crash.  The owner of the restaurant, Ann Yamusenoa said two of the injured were employees and two were customers.  All are expected to recover.

Witnesses saw the car heading straight for the restaurant.

Watch Maggie Newland's report, click here.

"The car was driving so fast it hit one of the bumpers on the trees and he went so fast and crashed into the store," said Jean Gonzalez.

Yamusenoa explained, "I heard like a bomb in my restaurant. I don't know what happened. I walked out and I saw all the dining room is smashed and my girl lie on the floor. A customer lie on the floor another customer and one girl hurt her leg."

Michael Rossi was sitting inside the restaurant having lunch when the car smashed into the restaurant.

"I can't believe it. I can't believe it. I was with my wife and her baby we were 15-feet away if he'd gone through that window it could've been us," said Rossi.

Police are still trying to determine what caused the driver to lose control.

The driver said he couldn't stop the car as it plowed through the window—ending up right next to a table set for lunch.  "The car jammed up. I couldn't stop it I couldn't turn it," said the driver who did not give his name.

"I ain't never in my life done something like this and I'm so sad and sick that this happened," said the driver.

After the crash, witnesses said the driver screamed for help, shoppers and diners did what they could until paramedics arrived.

"Everybody's just really trying to help everyone else out. A lot of altruism today. It was beautiful to see," said Laura Southgate, a witness.

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