In Deadly Restaurant Crash, Woman Hit Gas Not Brakes: Police

SNELLVILLE, GA — Gwinnett County Police believe a 68-year-old woman accidentally pushed her gas pedal instead of her brakes, causing a deadly crash in which her car plowed into a busy Snellville restaurant on Thursday.

The unusual crash happened shortly before 3 p.m. at M&J Homestyle Cooking at 3050 West Main St. in Snellville. A 71-year-old man who was at the restaurant was killed and another patron was injured, police say.

Police spokesman Cpl. Deon Washington said the woman was pulling into the parking lot with her husband at the time of the crash. He said investigators believe she confused the gas pedal and brake pedal as she did.

The woman was taken to a local hospital for evaluation along with her husband, who was not injured.

Washington said the restaurant, which serves a popular, Southern-style buffet, was full of patrons at the time, but no one else was injured.

It was unclear as of Thursday evening whether the driver will face charges in the case, Washington said. Police were not identifying the woman or the man who was killed as of Friday morning.

On its Facebook page, M&J Homestyle said that, despite the crash, it would be open for regular business hours on Friday.

Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department