Vehicle Crashes Inside Brick Restaurant, Two Seriously Injured

Photo courtesy Amanda Eldracher

BRICK – A vehicle came barreling through a Chinese restaurant late Friday night causing two serious injuries to workers who were in the process of closing up for the night.

The story first broke over the police scanners. Jersey Shore Online got the tip from Ocean County Scanner News.

The incident was reported shortly before 11 p.m. at Lo’s Garden Chinese/Japanese Restaurant on Route 88.

According to Brick Township Police, 36-year-old Emil Medina of Point Pleasant was attempting to back out of a parking space when he lost control of his vehicle driving straight into the restaurant.

The car struck two employees who were inside at the time. 24-year-old Binxin Zhang of Brick suffered cuts and leg injuries. 24-year-old Min Lin of Brick suffered a broken leg.

The employees were thrown into the kitchen area with serious injuries. 

A Facebook post from someone near the scene, “the vehicle is completely inside of the restaurant on the left side of the door. Directly into the free standing tables usually in that area. Does not look good.”

Both victims were taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. 

The Brick Building Department checked the restaurant for structural damage but deemed it safe.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation but it appears Medina may have mistakenly put his vehicle into drive instead of reverse.