A routine Wednesday evening at The Rustic Spoon in Virginia Beach took a harrowing turn when a vehicle veered off the road and plowed into an occupied patio. The incident, which left one woman pinned beneath the car, is currently under investigation by the Virginia Beach Police Department. According to reporting from WTKR, the accident occurred at the restaurant’s Pleasure House Road location, transforming a public dining space into a scene of emergency response.
The sequence of events, captured on surveillance footage and later shared by the restaurant’s ownership, highlights the fragility of public spaces. Ryan Hines, a co-owner of The Rustic Spoon, recounted that a driver parked in a nearby handicapped spot attempted to maneuver the vehicle. Instead of shifting into reverse, the driver engaged the drive gear, sending the car over a curb, through a bike rack, and directly into the metal railing separating the patio from the parking area. The impact struck the table where two women were seated.
There was a gentleman parked here on the handicapped spot. Put the car in drive instead of reverse, and he went up the curb over the bike rack, knocked over the metal railing, and then ran over the table where the two ladies are sitting. — Ryan Hines, Co-owner of The Rustic Spoon
The immediate aftermath saw a rapid mobilization by both staff and emergency personnel. Surveillance video reveals onlookers rushing to assist as 911 was contacted. Hines noted that one of his bartenders took a leadership role in the crisis, maintaining verbal contact with the trapped patron while awaiting the arrival of the fire department. First responders were able to utilize specialized equipment to elevate the vehicle and extract the woman, who was then transported for medical evaluation.
Despite the severity of the collision, the outcome has been described by those on the scene as nothing short of miraculous. Following extensive testing—including CAT scans and assessments for internal hemorrhaging—it was determined that the woman, who sustained a significant laceration to her face, suffered no broken bones. She was discharged from medical care that same evening.
Virginia Beach police have confirmed that the investigation into the collision is ongoing. The driver involved remained at the scene, and preliminary indications from ownership suggest the collision was accidental.
For now, the focus remains on the recovery of the individuals affected and the final determination by local authorities regarding the circumstances of the driver’s error.
