Vehicle Strikes Building; No Injuries Reported

On March 30, 2019, at 2157 hours, Newark Police responded to 270 East Main Street, Grain Craft Bar & Kitchen, for a report that a vehicle struck the building.  Arriving officers found a 1998 Mercury Marquis that struck the building, partially penetrating it.

The investigation revealed that the operator of the vehicle, Thomas Fortune, 75, of Newark, was backing into a parking space at the adjacent Super 8 Motel located at 268 East Main Street.  Fortune mistook the gas for the brake and accelerated backwards through a fence, across the driveway leading into Grain Craft Bar & Kitchen and penetrated the wall of the restaurant.  There were no patrons injured in the restaurant.

The City of Newark Building Department responded to the scene and ordered that the restaurant close pending repair of the damage.

Fortune was cited for Inattentive Driving and was released from the scene.  There is no photo of Fortune available for release.