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Van Drives Through Bill's Seafood in Westbrook

Monday morning it was business as usual for Bill's Seafood restaurant at 548 Boston Post Road in Westbrook, but after a van careened into the visage of the restaurant over the weekend, it was hard to believe things would be back to normal so quickly.

At 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, a blue, Ford van operated by Lynne Johnson, 53, of 11 Coe Avenue, Portland, accelerated into the front of the restaurant taking out two dining tables and stopping just before the area where bands usually play.

Connecticut State Police Troop F reported that Johnson was attempting park when her vehicle accelerated into another vehicle and then into the building.

No one was dining in the front of the restaurant at the time of the incident and no one was injured.

Restaurant manager, Kathy Johnson, a 25-year-employee of Bill's commented, "Mother nature was on our side." Just an hour before the incident, Johnson explains, the restaurant guests moved outside to dine on the deck as a result of nice weather.

The van narrowly missed one of the restaurant's gas stoves used to warm the restaurant, which is open year-round and employs 60 staff members.

The legs of the stove, recalls Johnson, were knocked off but no explosions resulted after the collision. The stove was later removed for safety reasons.

Johnson said, staff members had to disconnect gas and electrical service for the night while the restaurant's maintenance worker, Wig Carlson, worked with a group to temporarily patch up the area. Though guests were content to hang on the deck and enjoy the night, the restaurant closed for the evening to ensure customer safety. The building was secure by 8:15 p.m. following the incident.

Johnson said her large staff depends on busy weekend nights for income, so closing was a detriment to them. "But," she followed, "I am thankful no one was hurt."

Bill's, a shoreline icon, operating 50 years and going strong, was open for business on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. The two tables destroyed during the collision were replaced and are waiting for hungry patrons.