Van extensively damages Vancouver restaurant

A restaurant in the West Minnehaha neighborhood of Vancouver was extensively damaged when a van crashed into — and nearly through — the business early Saturday afternoon.

The spectacular crash into Miguel’s Mexican Food, 5408 N.E. St. Johns Road, however, resulted in no injures, according to Vancouver Fire Capt. Chris Moen.

Vancouver Police Department Sgt. Timothy Kim said the 12:14 p.m. crash was actually a two-vehicle accident. He said the van went off St. Johns Road after the impact and went into the building.

The restaurant was not open for business, and a check of the building found no one inside.

“If it had been opened, holy cow,” Moen said. “The car almost came out the back end.”

A natural gas leak caused by the crash was sealed off without incident, Moen said.

Mark Harper, who owns Re-Born Auto Repair next door to Miguel’s, said the restaurant had been closed for about six months. He said the owner had been planning to reopen soon.

The names of the van’s two occupants and details about the other vehicle was not available Saturday.