Woman inside Wendy’s dies when pickup crashes through dining room, Missouri cops say

A pickup truck crashed into the dining room wall of a Wendy’s restaurant in Missouri Monday night, killing one person inside and injuring five, police say.

Police responded to the Sedalia restaurant just before 6 p.m. following reports that a pickup truck had veered off the road and crashed into the building, WDAF reported.

A preliminary investigation found that the pickup was heading south before it left the road and went through the area in front of the restaurant hitting several trees and handrails before slamming into the front of the Wendy’s, police said, according to KMBC.

The truck hit several people before coming to a stop inside the building, WDAF reported.

Video of the aftermath shows the truck jutting out of the front of the building with the scene surrounded by firetrucks and police vehicles.

Eight people were in the dining room at the time of the crash, police said, according to the Sedalia Democrat. One woman died not long after, KSHB reported.

Police identified the woman as Carol Barnes, 81, KSNF reported. Her husband, Don Barnes, was also injured in the crash and is in intensive care at an area hospital, according to the outlet.

“The victim was a longtime resident of our community and a very popular person. It saddens all of us in this community. Our hearts go out to all the victims involved,” Sedalia Police Commander David Woolery told the outlet.

Five people were injured including a man who was taken by life flight to a hospital in Columbia for serious injuries, according to the Democrat. A 10-year-old boy was hospitalized with moderate injuries as well as two adults who suffered minor injures, the Democrat reported. A third adult sought their own treatment, according to police.

Dennis Weaver, 62, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, but formal charges have not been filed, KSNF reported. He was taken to the hospital before the Pettis County Jail, according to KMBC.

This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 11:14 AM.