Dubbo: Ute crashes into Royal India Restobar, elderly man taken to hospital for testing

Owners of a popular Dubbo restaurant are “relieved” no one was injured after an elderly man crashed his ute through the front of their business. Watch the incident unfold here.

An elderly man is in shock after he drove his ute through the glass window of a popular restaurant in Dubbo on Tuesday morning.

The man drove his car through the front of Royal India Restobar, located on Bultje St, in Dubbo, damaging the walls, carpet and some furniture, about 10.30am on Tuesday morning.

Co-owner Pratap Sarkar told The Dubbo News he was relieved the man, and his staff were not injured.

“There are no casualties which is a big relief for us – there is just a bit of shock,” Mr Sarkar said.

Mr Sarkar said he believed the man mistook the brake for the accelerator.

He said he was thankful the incident occurred while the restaurant was closed as the area is usually very busy during trading times.

Royal India Restobar, Dubbo. Photo: Supplied.

Glass damage from the vehicle.

Wall and furniture were also damaged.

“It’s very overwhelming and were still in shock but we’re very lucky that no one was hurt,” he said.

“I’m already thinking in how I can secure the place and thinking of speaking with council to see what else can be done.”

Matt Hansen Real Estate owner Matt Hansen rushed his office located next to the restaurant to rescue the man from the vehicle.

Owners Pradip Rai and Pratap Sarkar of Royal India Restobar, Dubbo.

“The scariest part was when I came out onto the footpath and the car was trying to reverse back out – everyone was screaming,” Mr Hansen said.

“I reached into the car and sort of got the broken glass and stuff out of the way and he sort of just cuddled me around the neck while I grabbed him by the belt and lifted him out.

“He was in a lot of shock – it happened so quick.

“I also checked under the car to make sure no one was underneath.”

The man was taken to Dubbo Base Hospital for mandatory testing.

Only hours away from leaving to America for a holiday, former Dubbo local and one half of the popular Hello Sport Podcast, Edward Simpson, took to Instagram to say he was “absolutely gutted” after hearing the news about the “holy site”.

The restaurant shot to fame in early 2022 when Mr Simpson claimed its cheesy naan bread was enough to “bring Jesus back from the dead”.

In his video, which has already racked up more than 2500 Instagram likes, Mr Simpson said it was time for everybody to “come together” to “think about the restobar”.

The restaurant will be open for takeaway orders tonight but is expected to be closed for dine in for the next week.