A suspected drunk driver crashed a truck into the dining room of a Lake Worth restaurant Saturday morning, police say.
Matthew Venable drove the Chevrolet Avalanche through Jesse Gill's restaurant in the 6000 block of Rocky Point Trail and into a guardrail on the other side, police said.
Witnesses told police they had to get into the vehicle and take the keys from the ignition. When officers arrived to talk to Venable, they immediately detected a strong smell of alcohol, police said.
Venable, 40, admitted to drinking a box of wine, and police found a small carton of wine in the crash area, according to the report.
No customers or bystanders were injured.
"What happened yesterday, right before Mother's Day, left us shocked and has made a huge impact on the sales we were hoping for," said Gill, the owner of Tuscany Italian Bistro.
Despite having had a truck plow through her dining room, Gill said that she would offer takeout Saturday night and resume dine-in and takeout service for Mother's Day.
Regular customers were back Sunday to eat in and get meals to-go.
Gill said she's balancing being a mom to two young boys and running the restaurant and is grateful for the community support.
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"We have high hopes that we're going to make a comeback on Mother's Day," she said.
Gill says she has started a GoFundMe to restore the restaurant.
Venable was hospitalized and later booked into the Tarrant County Jail on a DWI charge.
Police emphasized how important is was for people not to drink and drive.
