Five Injured When Car Crashes Into Fla. Deli

TAMARAC, Fla. --

Five people were taken to a hospital Wednesday after a car crashed into a deli, according to Tamarac Fire Rescue.

Investigators said the Toyota crashed into the front of Nosher's Deli in the 7100 block of Nob Hill Road.

"We heard this really, really large crash," said deli owner Charlie Adelson. "There was flying glass everywhere. There were people screaming. There were people running."

"(It was like a) freight train, hurricane, tornado hitting there at once," said co-owner Steve Galin. "It was just absolute chaos and pandemonium. You had people running in every which direction."

The Toyota smashed through the front window of the deli and did not stop until it reached the deli case.

"My busboy, he dove over the wall. If he didn't dive over the wall, unfortunately, he probably wouldn't be here right now," Galin said.

A flying door frame hit one woman. Another woman's purse became wrapped around her neck.

"(They) actually cut with a deli knife, cut the purse off her neck because she was choking and they couldn't get her out from the (car's) wheel well," Galin said.

Shirley DiPietro said she had just taken a bite of her favorite chicken salad when the car came crashing in.

"Something pushed my chair. I don't know whether it was the car or what. I fell on the floor and I tried to grab the table," DiPietro said.

Fire officials said five people were taken to a hospital after the crash, although none of them were seriously injured.

The driver of the Toyota, 78-year-old Rhoda Samuels, is a regular and had just finished lunch and left the deli before she drove through the front window. She was not hurt.

"She meant to put the car in reverse. The car was in drive," Adelson said. "She gave it a little bit of gas, and I think was caught up on the parking curb. She just floored it and went full into the restaurant."

"She lost her son and she lost her husband, and now this happened. She's going to be a mess," said acquaintance Gloria Glasser.

Wednesday's incident was the latest of several similar incidents in the strip mall. Business owners said they have been asking for barriers in front of their shops, but none have been installed.

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