toronto car crash

Car comes within inches of crashing through Toronto restaurant

It was a near miss for a Toronto barbecue joint yesterday when a large vehicle crashed into a telephone pole right outside, just inches from the restaurant's front window.

The proprietors of Uncle Smoke reacted with breezy humour and grace considering the alarming situation, posting shocking photos of the close call to Instagram with captions joking about valet parking and drive-thrus.

Owner of Uncle Smoke Cookhouse Chris Patheiger is actually currently in Vancouver, but confirmed over the phone that no one was hurt and no one was charged in the incident.

The vehicle, a Jeep, contained a lone driver, who swerved into the guide wire of a telephone pole to avoid oncoming traffic. The wire miraculously held the Jeep's weight. 

Photos on social media show the crashed vehicle empty, so it appears the driver was somehow able to escape; Patheiger was unable to confirm exactly how. 

Be careful when you're walking on the sidewalk around the busy Dundas and Bloor area, and if you're craving some brisket, take the time to find a proper parking space before heading into your favourite restaurant to get it.

Lead photo by

@fohphoto


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Here's a preview of what it will be like to ride on new Toronto LRT line

There's a brand-new $26M TTC subway station entrance in a popular Toronto park

Ontario's largest snake grows up to 2 metres and squeezes prey to death

Ontario is home to world's oldest pool of water at a staggering 2 billion years old

Stunning new Toronto park set to open next year

Toronto somehow isn't home to Ontario's jankiest LRT

A Toronto transit project is actually going to finish early for once

People worried about Ontario police's plan to use facial recognition software