Witnesses: Out-Of-Control Car Slammed Into Outdoor Diners
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami rescue officials were called to the scene of multiple people hit by a car Saturday afternoon.
"It was pretty disturbing," said witness Joshua Arteaga.
According to witnesses, a car lost control and hit people while they were eating outdoors at a restaurant named La Pizzeria de Lemoni located at NE 2 Avenue and 46 Street.
Watch Maggie Newland's report, click here.
"Everybody was having a great time wining and dining," said Martha Hernandez who was parking her car nearby when the crash happened.
"The car just came and rammed into everything in front of the restaurant the people that were dining out all the tables and everything are smashed," another witness recalled.
Miami police said the car was a Toyota Camry driven by 71-year-old Belony Alterma. Detectives explained he was traveling south on NE 2 Avenue and lost control of the car.
"The chairs actually flew up and hit our window and some bags and things plates cups came flying at the window from the impact," said Sarah Raw who works at the boutique next door. She ran outside with other people who heard the crash.
"Almost like horror scene everyone was on the floor there were some kids screaming there were some people who were completely face-down," Raw said.
Officials said 10 people were injured and were transported to local hospitals including Jackson Memorial Hospital, the hospital's Ryder Trauma Center and Mount Sinai Hospital.
"The victims who were on the ground, they were pretty silent which was scary because they were not making a single sound," added another Hernandez.
"When we arrived we found it was just utter chaos people out in the street people trying to help others injured," said Captain Ignatius Carroll with Miami Fire Rescue.
All of the victims were conscious during the transports.
Three were considered trauma patients, officials said and a Miami Police spokeswoman said one patient was extremely critical.
Captain Carroll said two of the injured are pregnant.
CBS4 News reporter Maggie Newland was among the first media at the scene and could see chairs toppled in front of the restaurant with a car among the outdoor tables.
The driver of the car wasn't injured and he said he sat in his car in shock.
"I don't know, just accident," the driver told CBS4's Maggie Newland Saturday night.
Through a translator, Belony Alterma said he was driving home from the laundromat with his wife and niece when the crash happened.
"When he pushed on the brakes he felt the vehicle losing control," a translator said for Alterma.
Miami Fire Rescue reported the car hit a pole before ending up on sidewalk and that impact may have slowed the car.
"That very light post may have saved all these people's lives," said Officer Kenia Fallat with the Miami Police Department. "That is what took the severe impact."
Speed may have played a role in the crash, officials said. Investigators are still looking into the circumstances of the crash.
"He doesn't drive aggressively at all, very law-abiding," a neighbor told CBS4 News of the driver's character.
Police said Alterma received two citations in connection with the crash.
Alterma said he is traumatized by what happened.
"It really hurts him what happened and he's really sad and sorry for the incident that occurred," the translator said.
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