ELYRIA, Ohio — A driver had to be pulled from their vehicle by firefighters after crashing into Expresso Bakery in Elyria on Sunday morning.
City of Elyria Fire Department officials says the incident happened at around 9 a.m. after being called for a "vehicle into a building with people trapped" at the bakery on 4th Street.
Upon arriving at the scene, crews discovered a vehicle that had went through the back wall of the bakery. Officials quickly controlled free-flowing natural gas and removed the driver of the vehicle.
Officials say the driver was going 65 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone.
Expresso Bakery owner Keith Black told 3News' Carmen Blackwell that there were three workers inside the bakery at the time of the crash. One of the bakery workers was trapped for a brief amount of time and was pulled out by a customer before Elyria Fire Department personnel arrived. The employee suffered a broken ankle.
"Thankfully, a good Samaritan -- a customer -- pulled the counter forward, freeing her so she could get to safety. As of now, this Good Samaritan is unknown. If anyone hears of him, the family and business, and myself, would like to offer our heartfelt thanks," said Elyria City Councilman Andrew Lipian on Facebook after the crash. Lipian later identified the Good Samaritans as Meghann Falk and Christopher Roy.
Both the driver and employee were taken to UH Elyria Medical Center.
"The building was properly stabilized and utilities were controlled, damage inside is extensive and Elyria Police are in charge of the investigation," said Elyria Fire officials.
Black, whose wife was just three feet away from the impact, says Sunday's crash has changed everything for him and his family.
"We were shut down for six weeks, then we started rebuilding and trying to get it going. Then we're going pretty good now and then all the sudden a car hits it and it's like the same thing all over again," Black said through tears to 3News.
Insurance companies estimate that it will take four to six months for the bakery to repair the thousands of dollars worth of damages. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
A GoFundMe has been set up by Lipian to assist the Black family.
Photos of the damage can be seen below.
