Oregon State Police cited a Seal Rock man Saturday for careless driving after he swerved to avoid rear-ending a car on U.S. Highway 101, hit a car in the parking lot of the Luna Sea of Seal Rock and then crashed into the side of the restaurant.
Police cited Steven R. Adair, 62, of Seal Rock. He and a passenger, Catherene A. Humphrey of Seal Rock, were taken to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport for treatment. Police said they “secured” a handgun for Humphrey and returned it Sunday.
According to the police report, witnesses said Adair was driving too fast as he approached Seal Rock from the south about 3:30 p.m. Saturday and then had to swerve right to avoid rear-ending a car in front of him. His SUV then hit the side of a Subaru parked in front of the recently-opened restaurant, and then crashed into the building.
Restaurant owner Robert Anthony of Yachats said the SUV crushed a small portion of the front wall, knocking one table and booth across the aisle. No one was sitting at the table and no one inside was injured, he said.
“We’re blessed that nobody got hurt,” Anthony said. “It could have gone wrong in so many ways. It’s a miracle.”