Vehicle hits 5 outside Glendale Oregano's restaurant

Five people were hurt when a driver crashed his vehicle into a wall near the entrance of a busy Glendale Oregano's Pizza Bistro restaurant at dinnertime Monday.

Police responded to reports just after 6 p.m. of the crash in the 6700 block of West Bell Road.

"When we arrived, not only did we have five patients, but we also had a lot of panic and chaos around the building," Glendale Assistant Fire Chief Elio J. Pompa said.

One woman, believed to be in her 30s, could lose a leg, Pompa said. She was taken by ambulance to HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center in Phoenix. Officials are hopeful her partly severed limb can be reattached.

Another woman was airlifted there with suspected head injuries.

Police described the injuries as serious but non-life-threatening and added that victims were in stable condition.

All five were standing near the restaurant entrance, when the male driver of a white Chevrolet Tahoe lost control as he tried to park. The SUV struck the people waiting to get inside.

The woman who suffered serious injuries to her leg was pinned under the vehicle, police said.

About 50 people were inside the restaurant at the time of the crash. All were evacuated, though none had injuries, police said.

Glendale police detained the driver and led him away in restraints. He appeared to have a brace or medical boot on one of his feet or lower leg.

Police said he had moved forward from a parked position and struck the pedestrians and lodged his vehicle into the brickwork facade of the restaurant.

Engineers inspected the damage to the building.

"We're fairly confident the structure is sound, but for now it will have a big gaping hole in it," Pompa said.

Emergency units were still on the scene two hours after the crash as police took accounts from numerous eyewitnesses.

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