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It was an accidents where a few short minutes likely made the difference in what could have been a tragedy.
On Friday, December 13, 2019 at approximately 11 a.m. two vehicles collided at the intersection of Elizabeth Street and Prince Edward Street in Brighton.
A vehicle and pickup which was hauling a trailer collided. The pickup truck veered into Vito’s Pizzeria and Dining Lounge smashing though the take-out area.
Two people were in the pickup and two people were in the vehicle.
Brighton Township Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Ogden had just left the firehall located a block away from the collision and was getting into his truck when a number of students informed him of the collision.
Immediately arriving on scene, Ogden said he could see the truck inside the building and a vehicle heavily damaged.
“One person was still in the pickup that was still inside the building and the driver of the other vehicle was on the ground.”
“This is extremely lucky.”
“If it was 10-minutes later in the day that take-out area would have been packed with students.”
Braison Drysdale is a cook at Vito’s and was preparing food for the restaurant that had just opened.
Drysdale had just put an order in the fridge for a customer who was going to stop by and pick it up.
Seconds later the pickup came crashing through the front window into the take-out area very close to where he was standing.
“I hear a crash and look up and there is a truck coming into the building.”
“It starts off as a normal day and all of a sudden – I don’t know if I’ve ever been so scared in my life – it was unreal.”
The customer could have entered the store at any moment and Drysdale said he could have easily been struck and killed.
“After something like this happens you feel lucky to be alive.”
Friday the 13th turned out to be an unfortunate day for the restaurant, but it could have been a lot worse.
“A building can be repaired, but you can’t replace a life – so I’m glad no lives were lost today.”
Two people from the vehicle were transported to hospital, the two people in the pickup truck received minor injuries.
No word on charges.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
