Woman dies after car crashes into Pollo Tropical in Davie

After car crash, driver ends up killing woman in fast-food restaurant

DAVIE, Fla. ā€“ A 41-year-old woman died after a car crashed into a Pollo Tropical in Davie on Friday. Two others were injured.Ā 

After a collision with a black Mercedes-Benz E550, the driver of a red Toyota MatrixĀ crashedĀ into the restaurant at the Lakeside Town Shops atĀ 5780 S.Ā University Dr.Ā 

Zamara Gonzales was seated at a booth by the window of the restaurant and was trapped under the ToyotaĀ for about 15 minutes.Ā 

"I mean, everyone was just trying to get a grip on it and lift it. The floor was pretty wet, so no one could really move without slipping," a witness said.Ā Ā 

After firefighters rescued Gonzalez, she was given chest compressions and was taken to the hospital.Ā Doctors later pronounced her dead.Ā  She had just celebrated a birthday Nov. 12.

The flying debris injured Steve PierreĀ and a 7-year-old boy.Ā Fire Rescue personnel took them toĀ the hospital. Pierre wasĀ expected to make a full recovery. The boy suffered a lacerated liver, broken rib and a pulmonary hematoma. Doctors expect him to survive his injuries.Ā 

The Davie Police Department identified the driver of the 2008 Toyota Matrix as Jesus Bisball from Hollywood, and the driver of the 2014 Mercedes Benz E550 as Stacy Masik-Mahaffy.Ā 

Sgt. Mark Leone saidĀ Masik-MahaffyĀ failed to stop at a stop sign and struck the driver's side of Bisball's car, which then rotated counter clockwise.

After crossing a center median, BisballĀ ended up crossing the parking lot. HeĀ crashedĀ through the plate glass window and into theĀ booth where Gonzales was sitting, Leone said.Ā 

The cause of the crashĀ remains under investigation. Police officers have video from the back of a Target and will be collecting the video from inside the restaurant next week.Ā Ā 


About the Authors:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.