Car crashes into bakery and restaurant

Bryce Alderton

A 39-year-old driver attempting to park in a mini-mall accidentally

hit the accelerator instead of the brake and crashed into a Newport Beach

bakery and Chinese restaurant Sunday morning.

While no one was injured in the incident at 3601 Jamboree Road, Lina’s

Bakery and Lite Wok both suffered damage.

Newport Beach resident Francisco Jove accidentally drove his 2000

Honda Passport into the bakery and then hit the wall separating the two

restaurants.

Newport Beach Police Sgt. Fred Heinecke said there were skid marks at

the scene where Jove was trying to park.

The bakery received the most damage, he said.

“The front doors, windows, the north wall, tables, chairs and decor

were all damaged,” Heinecke said. “The [Passport] received damage mainly

to the front of the car.”

Scott Muchlinski, manager at nearby Diedrich Coffee, arrived at work

about 9:45 a.m., worrying about the fire trucks parked there.

“I thought, ‘What happened and who do I have to call?’ because I

thought something happened to [the coffee shop],” Muchlinski said. “There

was glass everywhere and the mirrors along the wall of [the bakery] were

damaged. But there was relatively little damage to the Honda.”

Jami Pickard arrived for work at Pizza Hut, next door to the bakery,

at 10 a.m. Sunday baffled by what took place.

“The car went through the windows of the bakery,” Pickard said. “I

don’t see how someone could get that much speed trying to park and go

through the doors like that.”