Jeep embeds itself in side of Burger King in early morning crash; three hurt

A Jeep Cherokee that lost control at about 3 a.m. Tuesday raced through the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Third Street, embedding itself in a Burger King restaurant, according to Renton Police.

The three occupants of the Jeep were injured. The driver, a 27-year-old woman, and a male front-seat passenger were transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition, according to police. The man was later released and the driver was in stable condition on Wednesday at Harborview.

A woman in the back seat was transported to Valley Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries; she was in good condition Wednesday, according to Renton Police.

The Burger King at 311 Sunset Blvd. N. was open at the time, but the two employees inside were not injured.

When officers arrived, the Jeep was completely inside the storage area, with the occupants trapped inside, according to police Commander Paul Cline, a spokesman for the Renton Police Department.

According to police, the Jeep was traveling west on North Third Street at a high rate of speed when it lost control as it approached Sunset Boulevard, according to Cline.

The vehicle swerved to the right as it reached the intersection and then crossed over the seven lanes of Sunset Boulevard, striking the sidewalk, according to police. The vehicle continued over the sidewalk, through the landscaping and across the Burger King parking lot, where it broke through the brick wall of the restaurant’s storage room.

The investigation at the scene indicated speed was a factor in the collision, according to Cline.

Workers at the Burger King near Liberty Park were removing food and other products from the restaurant Tuesday morning after it was closed. Cleanup of the debris where the vehicle hit the building also was under way.

A representative for Burger King didn’t return a call for comment, including when the restaurant would reopen. Restaurant managers at the scene were not allowed to comment.