MIAMI – City of Miami officials said the pizzeria where 10 people were injured Saturday after a car plowed through the sidewalk where people were dining does not have the required permit to have outdoor seating.
Furthermore, city officials said Lemoni Pizza & Kitchen would never have been granted the permit because the sidewalk is too narrow.
"There are a number of physical requirements, one of which being a 10-foot-wide sidewalk," said Director of Public Works Ed Santamaria. "In this case, that condition does not exist at that location, so they would not have been granted a permit."
READ: Miami code pertaining to sidewalk cafes.
The city also previously served the restaurant with a cease and desist order to stop serving on the sidewalk before the weekend crash.
Surveillance video showed Belony Alterma, 71, crash his Toyota Camry into several diners. He was cited for careless driving and failure to wear glasses after striking a light pole and several patrons seated outside the restaurant.
A total of 10 people were taken to area hospitals. At least one person was listed in critical condition.
The owner of the restaurant, Maria Pelati, told Local 10 News reporter Christina Vazquez that she could not comment on the permit issues due to legal reasons, but said she was shocked and heartbroken that people were injured at her restaurant.
"This is a home for everybody and this is what happened outside," said Pelati. "It is like it happened to me, like one of the members of my family."
Miami police told Local 10 News that there are no criminal charges pending against Pelati.
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