Van rams into front of Osaka

Salisbury Firefighters sweep up debris and glass Thursday afternoon after a man driving a van crashed into Osaka Japanese Cuisine. Photo by Shavonne Potts/Salisbury Post

A driver crashed into the front of Osaka Japanese Cuisine Thursday afternoon. No customers were in the restaurant at the time of the accident. The driver apparently blacked out Owner Jun Yu said. Photo by Shavonne Potts/Salisbury Post

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

Jun Yu, owner of Osaka Japanese Cuisine got quite a shock when a van came crashing through his restaurant Thursday afternoon.

Yu was standing in the restaurant, located at 129 Statesville Blvd, around 4 p.m. when a blue van jumped the concrete wheel stop and smashed through the front window.

There were no customers in the restaurant at the time of the accident.

Yu said he was standing in the restaurant along a back wall just thinking about doing some painting or changing out the light fixtures when he heard a boom.

"I heard a boom and turned around," he said.

He went to the van to check on the driver, who was unconscious, Yu said.

The restaurateur saw there were two small children who were crying.

"They came out of the van screaming," he said.

He sat them down on two chairs and returned to the driver, who had become conscious.

"I asked him if he was OK and what happened," Yu said.

The driver told Yu everything went black, Yu said.

The man's name was not available. He was sent to Rowan Regional with non-life threatening injuries. He was conscious at the scene.

Yu said the man tried to move, but Yu told him not to move.

"The airbag saved him," Yu said.

He could see the airbag had deployed and saw the powder from the bag floating in the air.

Salisbury Police responded along with the Salisbury Fire Department, who administered first aid to the driver.

Firefighters also swept up some debris, brick pieces and glass.

Osaka has been in business for five years.