SUV plows into Southwest Philadelphia restaurant and catches fire

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A restaurant in Southwest Philadelphia was heavily damaged after it was hit by an SUV, which then caught fire.

Firefighters pulled charred timbers from the front entrance of the popular Jamaican restaurant Taste O'Home on Monday.

It happened around 2:30 a.m. on Monday, along the 6000 block of Baltimore Avenue.

The vehicle could be seen practically inside the restaurant.

Resatuarnt owner Kadie-Ann Murray fought back tears as she describes what happened when her phone rang early Monday morning.

"I woke him up and said, 'The restaurant is on fire,'" said Murray. "We were so startled by all of this."

Kadie and her husband, Wade, spent the last few decades building their dream. They were preparing to celebrate the restaurant's 25th anniversary this summer.

"To see it come down to this, it's tearing me apart," said Wade Murray. "A lot of strength, a lot of energy, a lot of love. A lot of good food. This morning we were awakened to this."

Police say this all happened moments after the driver of the Jeep lost control as he swerved to avoid another car. Incredibly, he was not injured.

Neighbors like Raymond Scoffield say the restaurant was a local favorite, famous for their jerk chicken and snapper.

"Memories. Stories from when my Grandmom was still living. She used to come here. He's been in the neighborhood a couple decades now," said Scoffield.

The restaurant owners say they will rebuild.