Fort Lauderdale, FL - A stolen Rolls-Royce Cullinan crashed into a Checkers restaurant in Fort Lauderdale early Wednesday morning, leaving behind significant damage and landing the suspect in police custody.
The luxury vehicle was stolen from outside the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort before the crash occurred.
The incident began around 2:15 a.m. when Fort Lauderdale police responded to a report of a stolen Rolls-Royce at 505 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard.
Officers later spotted the vehicle heading west on W. Broward Boulevard.
The driver attempted to flee upon noticing law enforcement, but police did not initiate a chase.
The situation escalated when the driver later crashed the white Rolls-Royce into the Checkers at 2701 W. Broward Boulevard.
Video footage captured the aftermath of Wednesday’s accident, showing a massive hole in the restaurant, the severely damaged vehicle with airbags deployed and its hazard lights still flickering.
According to authorities, the driver abandoned the vehicle after the crash but was quickly apprehended nearby.
The Checkers was open at the time of the accident, with one employee still inside.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, although fire rescue officials transported the driver to a hospital for evaluation.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue teams assessed the damage, and a building inspector was notified.
The restaurant remains heavily damaged, though no further structural issues have been reported.
The suspect faces charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest without violence.
Police say the suspect also had two outstanding warrants, one from Broward County and another from California.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into how Wednesday’s theft occurred.