Last Saturday, a pickup truck crashed through the front of Durango’s restaurant, sending the wall and front door into the main dining room. Fortunately no one was injured in the crash and the business continues to be open for business.
Nena Maria Garcia, who owns the restaurant with her sister-in-law, Socorro Franco, was in the kitchen when she heard the crash.
“It was a huge surprise,” she said. “Children at a back table began crying and one diner who changed his table from the front dining room to a table in the back because of cold drafts from the door, was so spooked that when his food arrived, he asked to have it packaged up to go.” In fact, none of the tables in the dining room affected by the crash were occupied.
Gary Barchfeld, who was eating breakfast in an adjacent dining area, captured photos of the incident. “We heard what sounded like an explosion,” he said. “I ran in and took several photos. You know, those tables in the front always have people seated there.”
According to the owners of the building, John and Mary Lou Gogonas, the driver, a 36-year-old Wimberley man, told police that the brakes on his truck failed. “He told us that a driver traveling on FM2325 in front of him made an abrupt stop and he swerved to avoid the car, his brakes failed and he crashed into the building.” Police took the driver’s statement and later issued two tickets. It was learned that the driver, who recently purchased the truck, did not carry automobile insurance.
Mary Lou Gogonas was in Port Aransas at the time celebrating a friend’s birthday when she heard about the crash. “I had just been talking about Durango’s when I received a text from a Wimberley friend who saw a photo of the accident on Facebook. I called my husband John, who couldn’t believe word had gotten around so quickly.”
The building’s exterior was quickly boarded up and a temporary entrance was fashioned at the back of the building. The drive-through window was not affected by the crash and inside seating and take out continues to be up and running.
“Let people know that we are open for business,” said Garcia. “We want people to know that we are ready for them.”
