Terrifying Video Shows Suspected Drunk Driver Plowing Pickup Truck Into Packed California Restaurant

Diners enjoying a quiet afternoon meal were sent scrambling for their lives when a pickup truck suddenly smashed through the front of a busy California restaurant, sending glass and debris flying across the room.

The terrifying collision happened at Chicken Thyme, a family-owned restaurant at 1114 Meadow Lane in Concord, on Saturday, October 24, at approximately 2:10 p.m.

Security camera footage captured the white pickup truck hurtling through the restaurant’s front entrance as customers sat at tables just feet away. The impact sent shattered glass, concrete and other debris scattering across the dining area.

Restaurant owner Fraidoon Jamshed was standing behind the counter when the vehicle came crashing toward him. He managed to jump out of its path as the truck tore through the storefront.

Jamshed later described the vehicle appearing to bounce after hitting the curb before suddenly flying into his business.

He estimated that the driver may have been traveling between 70 and 80 miles per hour.

There were seven or eight customers inside at the time, along with staff. Incredibly, nobody was injured.

A structural support column was destroyed

The collision caused far more than damage to the restaurant’s windows and entrance. The truck struck and brought down a large concrete support pillar, measuring approximately 16 by 16 feet, that helped support the building’s roof.

The city of Concord subsequently closed the indoor dining area while the damage was assessed and repairs were arranged.

The closure also affected two neighboring businesses, Kabob Craze and Little Thai House, which share the same dining space.

Although the restaurants’ kitchens are located in a separate part of the shopping complex and were not affected, all three businesses were forced to rely on takeout and delivery orders while their dining areas remained closed.

Jamshed said repairs could take months, leaving the family-owned business facing an uncertain recovery.

Despite the damage, he urged customers not to abandon the restaurant, explaining that it was still accepting takeout and DoorDash orders.

Driver arrested on suspicion of DUI

Concord police identified the driver as a 22-year-old local man. According to police, he displayed signs of intoxication following the collision and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

He was also transported to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation.

Authorities had not publicly released his name or confirmed what charges he might ultimately face.

Jamshed described an especially alarming detail after the crash: the driver’s foot was reportedly still pressing the accelerator, and people had to remove it before they could safely get him out of the vehicle.

The incident could easily have ended in tragedy, given how many people were eating inside when the truck burst through the entrance.

For the restaurant’s owner, the relief that nobody was hurt has been overshadowed by the enormous damage to a business he and his family have worked to build.

The dramatic surveillance footage serves as a frightening reminder of how quickly an ordinary afternoon can turn into a life-threatening emergency — and how narrowly the diners inside escaped serious injury.