A serious traffic incident caused panic in the upscale Kolonaki district of Athens just after midnight, when a luxury SUV rolled into a busy restaurant, injuring twelve people.
According to initial reports from police, the driver — a 35-year-old man — had parked the vehicle on a steep slope along Loukianou Street and entered the restaurant, asking an employee to assist with moving it. However, the vehicle had not been properly secured. As a result, it began to roll backwards and crashed into the outdoor dining area of the restaurant at the intersection of Loukianou and Patriarchou Ioakim streets.
The SUV struck approximately five tables before coming to a stop. Witnesses described the moment as chaotic, reporting a loud crash followed by screams from diners and passersby. A number of patrons were thrown from their seats, and several pedestrians were also caught in the path of the vehicle.
Twelve people were injured in total. Emergency services responded immediately, with seven ambulances dispatched to the scene to transport the injured to nearby hospitals. Eleven were transported by ambulance to KAT Hospital, a major trauma facility, and another to a separate hospital. Fortunately, all injured individuals are reported to be in stable condition and out of immediate danger.
Authorities responded quickly to the scene, temporarily closing nearby roads to manage the emergency. Traffic was halted for about an hour on Loukianou Street, from Patriarchou Ioakeim to Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, and on Patriarchou Ioakim Street, between Irodotou and Ploutarchou Streets, in both directions. Traffic was gradually restored around 1:30 a.m.
The driver of the vehicle was arrested and is expected to face charges under articles 290 and 314 of the Greek Penal Code, which pertain to endangering public safety and causing bodily harm through negligence.
Experts noted that the situation could have been far more severe had trees not been present to slow the vehicle’s momentum. The SUV was eventually removed from the scene by a tow truck.
