Call for bollards after car crashes into Utsav Indian Restaurant on Heathmont shopping strip
A CAFE owner has called for bollards on a Heathmont shopping strip after a car smashed through Utsav Indian restaurant on Canterbury Rd earlier this month
Outer East
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A CAFE owner has called for bollards on a Heathmont shopping strip after a brand new Volkswagen smashed through an Indian restaurant earlier this month.
An 82-year-old man accidentally drove the car, which had done 30km on the clock, through the front windows of the Utsav Indian restaurant on Canterbury Rd at about 2pm on June 5.
The man allegedly hit the accelerator instead of the brake, and according to witnesses narrowly missed a female diner standing outside the Food Coffee Friends cafe next door.
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The cafe’s owner, Allsion Kett, said Utsav’s owner Anil Singh told her the accident created more than $20,000 damage, which would be covered by insurance.
Maroondah Leader understands the restaurant reopened last week after being closed for repairs.
Ms Kett said Mr Singh visited her in her cafe recently and was “devastated” over the crash, and feared he would have to close for a month.
“They’ve got painters in there and he’s got it all covered up now,” she said.
“Our heart goes out to them, losing a month of trade, it would be so hard.
“It (Utsav Indian) is so popular and they are lovely people.”
Ms Kett said she and other nearby traders would speak to Maroondah Council to see if bollards could be installed in front of parking spaces to prevent a future incident.
“We’ve been speaking to the other shopkeepers about it, its definitely necessary,” she said.
“All shopping strip centres need them these days, it would have saved the loss of trade for the restaurant and a potential loss of life.”
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