A Southampton restauranteur's venue has been partly destroyed when a car smashed into the front of his Sri Lankan diner.
Madhawa Ranmandala, who owns Ceylon Junction on Cobden Avenue, was woken up by the police call letting him know his business was one of two hit by a silver Audi.
Both he and kebab shop owner Hafiz Baber were informed after officers were called at around 3.21am on Thursday to the collision.
When police arrived at the scene, the driver had fled - a 24-year-old man from Portsmouth has since been arrested and released under investigation.
Madhawa Ranmandala, 49 (Image: NQ, Jose Ramos)
Speaking to the Echo, Sri Lankan national Madhawa said: “It’s going to cost thousands to fix everything.
"I need to get a structural engineer to make sure the building is safe.”
The 49-year-old was in disbelief when he was told what happened. He said: “I got the call at 4.14am asking me if I was the owner. They said a car had crashed into the shop.
“I had left the shop at half past midnight because I was preparing for an office party we were going to host in the restaurant."
Hafiz Baber, 39 (Image: NQ, Jose Ramos)
He then called Hafiz, the owner of Diamond Pizza and Kebab who lives around the corner and the two rushed to get to the scene to find chaotic scenes.
The 39-year-old kebab shop owner said: “Psychologically it was just a shock. It was like there had been an earthquake. Everything was on the floor. It was a huge blast.
“Had it not been for the roll-up shutters, I think the car would probably have gone into the shop.”
Diamond Pizza and Kebab (Image: NQ, Jose Ramos)
Car after the crash (Image: UGC)
CCTV image from inside the restaurant shows the moment the car hits the front door, narrowly missing the rest of the glass windows.
Aftermath of crash (Image: UGC)
Aftermath of crash (Image: UGC)Madhawa, who has lived in the UK for 23 years, said: “This is my only source of income.
"I will not be able to open the store because I need to wait to see if the building is structurally safe.”
It comes after the business owner had a water leak in the same restaurant last year, forcing him to close for two months.
They are now both waiting to claim the repair costs on the driver’s insurance.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel