Las Vegas restaurant shuts down after car crashes through kitchen wall

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Police are looking for the driver who crashed through the back of Krung Thai Restaurant in central Las Vegas.

That person fled the scene near Flamingo Road and Decatur Boulevard and left a Hyundai Elantra behind as the car caused significant damage to the restaurant’s kitchen and caused a gas leak.

Maintenance crews spent Monday morning boarding the back wall as broken plates and appliances were scattered everywhere.

Paul Swan has owned Krung Thai Restaurant for nearly 20 years and What is supposed to be his busiest month of the year has now turned into a holiday nightmare.

"I’m shut down, total loss. My cooking equipment is damaged," said Swan.

For the first time, he was forced to shut down, and the timing couldn't be worse.

"I’m sad I won't be able to serve my customers as usual. I've lost December's income, and that's the biggest month for any restaurant owner," said Swan, as he picked up the phone to call his insurance.

The surveillance video shows the car smashed through a cement barrier and the kitchen wall and Swan worries his ten employees are all out of a job.

If he doesn't get the power back in the kitchen soon, he risks losing thousands of dollars’ worth of food.

"If it's bad and not the right temperature. I have to throw it all away," said Swan.

If there is any good out of this misfortune, it's the timing of the crash. As it happened just before 4:30 a.m. with the restaurant closed until 11 a.m.

"Five people would've been back there (in the kitchen)," Swan said.

For Krung Thai regulars, the damage was shocking, but they were grateful to learn no one was hurt or killed.

"I feel sorry for him," said a customer, who’s eaten at Krung Thai for nearly 15 years.

Las Vegas police continue their search for the driver.