Cattle trailer crashes into restaurant

AUSTIN (KXAN) - An empty cattle trailer crashed through the wall of a East Austin restaurant just after the lunch hour on Thursday.

According to authorities, the trailer became detached from the truck that had been pulling it and smashed into Mariana's Kitchen, 6002 Burleson Road, near Montopolis Drive.

James Hutchins said he was driving west on Burleson Road when he hit some bumps in the road.

"The next time I know the trailer came crashing and banging around and turn around and there it was sitting in the restaurant," he said.

The impact and the aftermath startled nearly everyone at the restaurant.

Oscar Ocampo, a waiter, said he had his back turned "and all of a sudden when I looked back, I heard the notice and had to look back and I see customers flying towards me and the whole wall coming down.

"All I see was a big trailer right there," he added. "I was in shock and didn't know what to do. One of our children was behind the trailer trapped in the booth. People were telling me [to call] and screaming at me to call the police. I didn't know what to do. Help her or call the cops."

Five people were injured. Three were taken to the hospital.

Officials said no safety chains were on the trailer to stop it once it was detached. Why it came unhitched from the truck is still under investigation.

No charges are expected to be filed since the incident was an accident.