Vehicle crashes into diner

Robert Zerbst of Rozet “never misses his senior meal” at Donna’s Diner, said part-owner Kelly Donahue of the fellow who literally ran his pickup through the front of the café Monday morning. Zerbst was still visibly shaken as he sat in the vehicle after backing out of the building.

When the call came in at 10:23 a.m., eight volunteers responded from the Moorcroft Volunteer Fire Department, immediately evacuated the participants from the north exit and shut off power and gas.

The pickup went through the main entrance, destroying the glass door, window and a structural support holding the south end of the roof. Firemen set a temporary support to bear the now-sagging roof and covered the damaged area.

However, due to the substantial structural harm, the restaurant will not be safe for entrance by staff or customers until further notice.

Donahue and co-owner Candy Elliot plan to have concrete pillars installed around the building this time around. Ten years ago, a vehicle drove through the east side and more recently another individual missed the brake and smashed a picnic table into the southeast corner.

The partners intend to use this closure to implement other updates they have wanted to put in place, but were never able to close long enough.

Zerbst said his foot “slipped off the brake and then it crashed right into the [building]”. According to the police report, Zerbst then accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake when he attempted to stop again.

Zerbst admitted the experience had really frightened him. He has not been cited at this time.