Rotorua: Urbano Bistro closed for repairs after car smashes through window

A car crashed through the Urbano Bistro window in Rotorua on Friday. Photo / Andrew Warner

Police say six people were injured when a car smashed through a restaurant window in Rotorua after being involved in a crash with another vehicle.

Urbano restaurant is closed for repairs after the Friday night incident, with the injured including a customer who was seriously injured.

Police initially said in a statement on Monday initial indications were that the crash was caused by a driver suffering a medical event and it was “unlikely any charge/s will be filed”. A later statement, however, said police continued “to investigate the cause of the crash and will be reviewing the possibility of any charges being laid”.

Police were called about 5.55pm on Friday to a two-vehicle crash where one of the cars had gone through a window of a restaurant on Fenton St near the intersection with Grey St.

A St John Ambulance spokesman said at the time four people were taken to Rotorua Hospital including three assessed as having moderate injuries and one with serious injuries.

Police said today five people from two vehicles were injured and a sixth person, who was a customer in the restaurant, suffered serious injuries.

All five occupants of both vehicles received minor injuries from the crash, while one person in the restaurant received serious injuries. They were all taken to hospital and were either in a stable condition or had been discharged.

Urbano Bistro has been boarded up and was closed on Sunday. Photo / Megan Wilson

Urbano Bistro was closed when the Rotorua Daily Post visited on Sunday morning.

A sign said it was closed “in the coming days” for repairs and would advise its customers when it would re-open. It said to call the restaurant or check its Facebook page and website for updates.

A neighbour, who spoke on the condition she was not named, said she heard what sounded like a truck driving past or an earthquake.

Police had already arrived by the time she went out onto the street to see what had happened, she said.

Sally Carr said she was thankful she and her partner were able to help those who needed attention in the restaurant.

“I feel for all involved.”

On Friday, a Fire and Emergency Northern Communications Centre shift manager said two people were trapped.

She said three fire trucks were at the scene assisting police and ambulance.

A photographer at the scene said Fenton St was cordoned off and a car was inside Urbano Bistro.

Fenton St was cordoned off after a two-vehicle crash on Friday. Photo / Andrew Warner

Another crashed car was on the right-hand side of Fenton St heading into town and there were tracks on the median strip.

The Rotorua Daily Post approached Urbano Bistro for comment.