Suspected Drunk Driver Crashes Stolen Minivan Into Iconic Restaurant In Cajon Pass

OAK HILLS (CBSLA.com) — A suspected drunk driver crashed a stolen minivan into an iconic restaurant in the Cajon Pass early Thursday morning.

The California Highway Patrol said that Jayson Johnson, of Riverside, veered off the freeway and drove into the kitchen of the Summit Inn Restaurant in Oak Hills after 4 a.m.

Johnson walked away from the crash site and was later arrested for DUI. His passenger was discovered nearby with head injuries.

Michelle Ranck, the general manager of the Summit Inn, a famous site for drivers since the heyday of Route 66, said no one inside the diner was hurt.

The structure was a different story.

"All this is just a complete mess," Ranck said. "It's going to take some time to get back to normal."

Ranck said Summit Inn is a legend in the area, partly because of some famous faces that showed up back in the day.

"[Elvis] kicked the jukebox because none of his music was on here. He kicked it down here at the bottom and then got mad and then left. Never to return again," she said. "Minnie Pearl used to have lunch at the counter."

KCAL9's Crystal Cruz reported that 10 employees will be out of work for a few weeks.

A grand opening is planned for when the restaurant is fully repaired.