SUV Plows Into Crowded Laconia, New Hampshire, Restaurant, 34 Injured

🔴 20 people were hospitalized following the lunchtime crash at The Looney Bin

🔴 The building was deem structurally sound and can reopen

🔴 No charges have been filed

34 people were injured and five hospitalized after a car ran into a Laconia restaurant Sunday.

Laconia Police Chief Matt Canfield said a car was making a left turn out of Funspot on Endicott Steet and saw a car stopped in the center lane. The driver pulling out did not see a second vehicle coming in the same direction and hit it, sending the mini-van into the front of the Looney Bin Bar and Grill.

At least 14 people were injured with lacerations, contusions, and other non-life threatening injuries and taken to Concord Hospital-Laconia, Concord Hospital-Frankin, and Concord Hospital, according to Laconia Fire Chief Tim Joubert. Two of those people suffered significant lower leg injuries. Another 20 were treated at the scene.

"There were a lot of people inside due to it being lunchtime and a holiday weekend. The great response time from our mutual aid partners allowed us to help many injured people in a short amount of time," Laconia Fire Capt. Chad Vallancourt said in a statement.

Crews from Gilford, Belmont, Meredith EMS, Tilton-Northfield, and Franklin assisted Laconia.

A photo of the inside shows heavy damage to the bar. The building was deemed stable and will be able to reopen, according to Canfield.

After the SUV was removed, crews went to work shoring up the restaurant and preparing to reopen.

The identities of the drivers and the injured were not disclosed by police.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH