Newstalk ZB/ONE News/NZPA
What started out as a late-night snack ended in near death experience after a taxi ploughed through the front door of a Wellington McDonald's restaurant, ramming a customer into the counter.
Police believe that a "slipped foot" may have been the cause.
They believe the taxi driver's foot may have slipped off the pedal, causing the car to crash into the dining area of the Taranaki Street McDonald's, leaving one man in hospital.
Police are still investigating, but they say the driver of the taxi, operated by Amalgamated Taxis, will not face criminal charges as the crash was "clearly an accident". Traffic charges may be laid.
A 49-year-old man was seriously injured after a counter fell on his leg in the incident, trapping him.
He is in a stable condition at Wellington Hospital and will undergo surgery, hospital spokeswoman Raylene Bateman says.
Witness Joe Bonaparte says there was a tremendous bang when the accident happened and everyone rushed to help the injured man.
"He was badly injured, because about four or five people tried to rescue him out from behind the counter, but they could not, because all the tables and glass was smashed," says Bonaparte.
Although the crash badly damaged the fast-food outlet, the mess has been cleared up and the restaurant was open this morning, an employee says.
McDonald's spokeswoman Kate Porter says the company's first priority was the injured customer.
Lionel Whitehead says the company are "very proud" of Jesse the shift manager who attended to the customer using his first aid knowledge.
McDonald's is liaising with police to contact the injured man and is providing police with footage from the incident.
The owner of the McDonald's franchise says it is a miracle noting worse happened.
Staff were shocked and there has been considerable damage, with a "significant amount" of broken glass.
Boneparte says he spoke to the driver soon after the accident.
"He was trying to remove his foot from the brake peddle and when he removed it, he'd pressed on the accelerator and he had smashed through the doors," he says.
McDonald's is right next to the BP Station and four years ago the same thing happened when a taxi went straight through the double doors. Back then they installed bollards as protection and now McDonald's bosses will be following suit.
TVNZ
