A man is facing charges after crashing a Volkswagen Beetle into the side of Dunkin’ Donuts in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, authorities said. Pictured above are members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department and Oak Ridge Community Development. The drive-through window is to the left of the VW. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 6 p.m. Feb. 4.
A man is facing charges after crashing a Volkswagen Beetle into the side of Dunkin’ Donuts in Oak Ridge on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
Officers charged the man, Matthew Ketron, 32, of Knoxville, with two counts of reckless endangerment and driving under the influence, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.
The crash was reported at about 2:50 p.m. Wednesday. At least five people were inside Dunkin’ Donuts at the time, the ORPD said. Two customers were treated for injuries and released at the scene. Officers said the building, which is in a small shopping center on Oak Ridge Turnpike, was heavily damaged.
The yellow 2000 Volkswagen Beetle crashed into a side wall, between the drive-through window and the glass at the front of Dunkin’ Donuts. But it’s not clear whether the driver had stopped at the drive-through.
Dunkin’ Donuts shift leader John Pechim said he was making coffee when he heard a loud crash and saw the VW in the lobby.
“Luckily, there was no one sitting there,” Pechim said.
Michael Phillips was eating nearby at Which Wich at the time.
“I heard a big boom,” Phillips said.
Several people said the driver apologized to people inside Dunkin’ Donuts.
Customer Julie Loguillo was there with her daughter and they were sitting in a booth close to where the VW crashed through the sheetrock-and-sheet-metal wall.
“We were just sitting in the front there, watching TV and talking,” Loguillo said. “It sounded like a bomb went off. My daughter said, ‘Oh, my God, there’s a car right there!'”
The driver sat in the car for a minute and then got out and asked if everyone was okay, Loguillo said. He had a few cuts on his face, she said.
Authorities said Dunkin’ Donuts will be closed the rest of the day. Pechim said the district manager was on his way to assess the damage.
Ketron remained jailed at the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Thursday afternoon.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
See newer story here.
The interior of Dunkin’ Donuts is pictured above after the Oak Ridge Fire Department removed a Volkswagen Beetle that crashed into it on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 3, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The Oak Ridge Fire Department removes a 2000 Volkswagen Beetle that crashed into the side of Dunkin’ Donuts on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 3, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The interior of Dunkin’ Donuts is pictured above after the Oak Ridge Fire Department removed a Volkswagen Beetle that crashed into it on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 3, 2016. Customer Julie Loguillo and her daughter were sitting in a booth to the right when the VW came through the side wall to the left. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The Volkswagen Beetle is inside Dunkin’ Donuts as Oak Ridge Police Department Detective Kevin Craig, left, responds on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Oak Ridge Fire Department firefighter/engineer T.J. Giles saws sheetrock and sheet metal before removing the Volkswagen Beetle that crashed into Dunkin’ Donuts on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 3, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The 2000 Volkswagen Beetle that crashed into Dunkin’ Donuts on Oak Ridge Turnpike is pictured above after it is removed on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 3, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Among those who responded from the Oak Ridge Police Department to a car that crashed into Dunkin’ Donuts on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, were Officer Christopher Wallace, left, and Sgt. Jeremy Huddleston. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
A 32-year-old Knoxville man was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment and one count of driving under the influence after allegedly crashing his 2000 Volkswagen Beetle into the side of Dunkin’ Donuts on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 3, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
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Devrin Kuipers says
Nice add placement for S&R Insurance Services. I think they should build it back using the car as part of the feature.
Jason Allison says
He just wanted to make room so they could make fresh donuts instead of trucked in donuts
Philip W Nipper says
Time to make the donuts? How about 30 days?
Raymond Charles Kircher says
Det. Craig looks very disappointed. Great pictures John.
johnhuotari says
Thank you, Raymond. I’ve had good experiences working with Detective Craig.
Kevin Rice says
What were them wall made of did it pass city code ? It looked like they was just sheet Rock There was not much damage to the car but major damage to the building which look like it was made cheap made !
johnhuotari says
Kevin, from what I could see, it looked like the building walls have sheetrock, some kind of sheet metal support structure, and insulation. I presume the building met city codes.
Thank you,
John
jason malinoski says
Some of these restaurants just have to work out the bugs here and there, I guess.