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90-Year-Old Driver 'Sorry' After Crashing Into Quincy Restaurant

QUINCY (CBS) -- Four people were taken to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after a 90-year-old man drove through the front entrance of a Quincy burger restaurant.

The driver of the car, 90-year-old Roger Nast of Cohasset, says he will never forget the terrible feeling. "I may not have got my foot all the way over on the brake," Nast says.

His Subaru crashed through the front wall of Wild Willy's burgers in Quincy, slamming into a family who was inside, throwing a father and daughter under the counter.

Roger Nast
Roger Nast crashed into a Quincy restaurant (WBZ-TV)

"Sheer panic really in not being able to have the car stop, trying hard to do it and it just kept on going," Nast said told WBZ-TV. "I feel badly for the people who were hurt and all the disruption."

The family was visiting from California. Their injuries are not life threatening. The driver and his female passenger were not hurt. One worker was also narrowly missed.

quincy wild willy's
A car drove into a Quincy restaurant Tuesday afternoon, injuring four. (Photo courtesy Chuck Palmer)

"I was in the kitchen at the time. At first, it sounded like thunder but it turned into this really big crash," said employee Manny Camargo. "I saw the father and daughter and that was pretty shocking to see."

"He's the sweetest old man he just looked really scared, very shaken up, and his wife too," said employee Emily Amrock. "I heard glass breaking and I look up and there's a car coming through the front door everything was just caving in and being pushed towards me."

A witness told WBZ that the couple was leaving the restaurant in their Subaru wagon, and thought the car was in reverse when it was in drive.

Quincy crash
Surveillance image of car crashed into Wild Willy's restaurant in Quincy (WBZ)

"The witnesses' accounts were that he had pulled in, backed up and then pulled forward again. He doesn't remember backing up," said Quincy Police Detective Karen Barkas.

A building inspector was on scene Tuesday afternoon, though police said there doesn't appear to be any significant structural damage to the restaurant.

Nast had a clean driving record until the crash. Police have pulled his license, but are not seeking criminal charges.

"Both of us are OK and I'm sorry for the damage done to other people," Nast said. "It sure was a hectic afternoon."

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