A large white SUV that reversed into California Tortilla last night has shattered the restaurant’s front window and damaged a nearby car, but caused no injuries, management said.
UPDATE | 5pm
The restaurant told Doha News it has replaced the broken glass, passed all health and safety checks and will re-open tonight (Monday) at 5pm.
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The popular Tex-Mex joint, which is on C-Ring Road at Ramada signal next to Korean Garden, was open for business around the time of the accident, shortly before 11pm.
The restaurant has been closed indefinitely pending repairs. In a post on its Facebook page, the eatery said:
The management of California Tortilla are very happy to confirm that there were no injuries in tonight’s unfortunate incident at the restaurant. We want to thank the staff and our loyal customers for their continued support and are grateful to the authorities for their swift response to the incident. We look forward to welcoming you back to the restaurant soon…. We might just place a drive through at the restaurant now!
It is unclear who was behind the wheel of the vehicle or how the driver lost control. The restaurant, which opened last May, was not immediately available for further comment. told Doha News this morning: “Thankfully the driver is fine. We hope to be back up and running as soon as we can.”
Last night, bystanders gathered to see what happened, many of them taking photos to share online:
Someone literally parked inside California Tortilla… @dohanews @iloveqatar pic.twitter.com/eb54DKM6Ge
— Majik™ (@XipherRevolver) March 2, 2014
Backed up into California Tortillas. #Qatar #Doha #accident @dohanews @qatarnews @qatar_online @LyleMisquitta pic.twitter.com/QMi6YKJlTa
— Ridtz Rahmat (@Ridtz_R) March 2, 2014
New drive Thru @dohanews @qatarliving @iloveqatar Courtesy : what’s going on Qatar pic.twitter.com/fZATuwhFul
— Mohammad Sid Bawany (@sidbawany) March 3, 2014
@DohaTweetups @dohanews The car has been towed off. The shop’s staff are now working hard on clean up duty..
— It’s me – elyL (@LyleMisquitta) March 2, 2014
Last night’s crash is one of many notable accidents Qatar has seen in recent years.
Just last month, a silver sedan crashed into the window-encased Pearl-Qatar’s Ferrari/Maserati showroom. The person behind the wheel fled the scene in his car, but was apprehended at the exit gate of the island.
In 2011, footage emerged of a Toyota Land Cruiser barreling through the storefront of an Al Zaman Currency Exchange branch in Al Khor. And a few years before that, an FJ Cruiser jumped a curb and smashed through one of La Cigale Hotel’s window panes.
All these incidents involved reckless driving, raising questions about how people can keep themselves safe while out and about in Qatar.
Does anyone know more? Thoughts?
