Car crashes into Seaside McDonald’s, restaurant catches fire

UPDATE 6/5/2018 6 p.m.: A massive fire destroys a McDonald’s fast food restaurant in Seaside. The fire was started by a car crash that sent three people to the hospital.

First responders were called out to the McDonald’s on Canyon Del Rey near Del Monte just before 5 a.m. Tuesday for reports of a car crash that set a building on fire.

“The vehicle, from what witnesses say and other information we’ve gathered, drove through the Starbucks parking lot, through the open field area between Starbucks and McDonald’s, flipped and rolled several times and ultimately crashed into the corner and the rear building of the McDonald’s,” said Seaside Police Commander Nick Borges.

The McDonald’s employees inside the building were not hurt in the incident.

Three men and a woman were in the Dodge Charger that crashed. Authorities believe drugs or alcohol were contributing factors. The driver could possible face felony DUI charges.

“What we do know is they (the passengers) left the scene after the crash and all of them have been identified since then,” Borges said. “The driver was taken to a local hospital for some treatment for some burns and some other injuries and two other passengers were also taken to a local hospital. One person in the vehicle had some warrants for their arrest and were taken into custody.’

The force of the crash was so strong that it sheared off the gas meter and compromised the electrical panels. PG&E needed to shut down the lines before firefighters could get the upper hand.

“We couldn’t get close enough to the building to do an effective fire attack and it allowed the fire to build a little bit because it was too dangerous for us to get close and that’s when we requested more resources,” said Seaside Fire Division Chief Troy Leist.

Crews from Monterey, Presidio of Monterey and Marina responded to the scene. Leist estimates there was about 40 personnel, equivalent to a three-alarm fire. Salinas Fire sent over an engine to help cover Seaside while the firefight raged on.

The roof collapse, something fire crews were expecting.

“This type of construction is known for failures of the façade because it’s got a façade around the top,” Leist said. “With as much fire as we had in the attic, we knew it was going to be a possibility and that in fact did happen.”

Late Tuesday, the building was demolished while fire crews were still on scene. Fire officials say that was the only way to make sure the hot spots were completely extinguished.

ORIGINAL POST: The McDonald’s restaurant on Canyon Del Rey Boulevard in Seaside caught fire in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The two-story building was completely engulfed in flames, spewing smoke which could be seen throughout the Monterey Bay area.

Officials told KION the fire started just before 5 a.m. after a 2008 Dodge Charger crashed into the fast food restaurant.

“Based on witness accounts and evidence at the scene, it is believed the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed west on Canyon Del Rey Blvd,” said Commander Nick Borges.

The car drove through the Starbucks parking lot and rolled over multiple times crashing into the rear of McDonalds. The car burst into flames and the building caught fire.

Seaside PD said the driver got out of the car when officers arrived but three other passengers took off.

The driver suffered moderate burn injuries and was taken to a local trauma center for treatment. One of the passengers was arrested for outstanding warrants and the other two were taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

Seaside PD has information that drugs may be a contributing factor to this crash.

KION’s Mariana Hicks will have the latest on News Channel 5, 46 at 5 and 6 p.m.