A vehicle crashed this Tuesday into the branch of El Palacio de los Jugos located in the West Kendall area of Miami-Dade, leaving three people injured and a gas leak at the establishment.
The accident occurred around 3:45 PM at the address 15110 SW 56th Street, when the car collided with the restaurant's structure, causing visible damage to the building.
The units from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived quickly at the scene and detected both structural damage and a gas leak, prompting them to immediately notify the distribution company.
Of the three injured, one woman was transported to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital as a trauma patient, while the other two were taken to area hospitals, as reported by Telemundo 51.
Authorities confirmed that one of the injured women was the driver of the vehicle herself.
The Instagram account @onlyindade, which posted images of the incident, indicated that the driver was a grandmother who had just picked up her grandson from school, although this version has not been officially confirmed by the authorities.
At the close of the initial reports, the exact circumstances that led to the crash remained unclear.
El Palacio de los Jugos is one of the most recognized chains in the Cuban community in South Florida, with around ten branches in the region. It was founded in 1977 by Apolonia Bermúdez at the corner of Flagler Street and 57th Avenue, and it has become a symbol of Cuban cuisine in Miami thanks to its tropical juices, chicharrones, and arroz congrí.
Such incidents are not uncommon in Miami-Dade. Last August, a car crashed into a beauty salon in the area, and in March, a driver lost control and ran over two people in front of the Versailles restaurant.
The very Palace of Juices has tragic antecedents in its vicinity: in January 2024, a cyclist lost their life after being struck in front of the Coral Way location of the chain.
So far, the authorities have not provided any information about the health status of the three hospitalized women nor have they clarified the causes of the accident.
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