A red SUV crashed into and damaged the front corner of the Copper Cricket restaurant on Monday, Nov. 3. According to police dispatch reports, the incident injured at least two people inside the building and rendered the driver unconscious.
Madison County Fire and EMS Facebook dispatch updates indicate that the crash occurred at around 12:30 p.m. Units from Hamilton Fire Department, Madison County EMS and the Hamilton Police Department responded within minutes to the Copper Cricket. Dispatchers later confirmed that the driver of the SUV had experienced a diabetic medical emergency, causing the vehicle to veer off the roadway, cross the street and collide with the restaurant’s exterior.
Matthew Przybyla, the administrator managing the Madison County NY Fire and Emergency Dispatch, was updating the feed with information throughout the day.
“Per PD, the driver had a diabetic issue … at least two injuries inside, and the driver was unconscious,” Przybyla said in his Facebook report.
Colgate University senior Cole Sachs, who was passing by the diner at approximately 12:55 p.m., described the chaotic scene he witnessed from a distance.
“As we moved past the emergency vehicles, the scene quickly unfolded,” Sachs said. “It appeared that a red SUV driving out of Hamilton had veered across the street and over the stone wall outside the Copper Cricket. Looking from across the street, the car impaled the front left corner of the building. It was shocking to see the roof and wall fully caved in.”
Sachs noted that, despite the dramatic damage, emergency responders did not appear to be rushing victims out, so he inferred that injuries were not life-threatening.
Inside the Copper Cricket, the impact scattered debris across the dining area. Owner Aaron Toomath said staff moved instantly to help customers and the driver. He added that the driver was later released from the hospital.
“She ended up having low blood sugar,” Toomath said. “She just passed out. She’s okay now.”
Toomath replayed security footage on his phone, narrating the crash as the SUV burst through the wall. The footage shows the occupants of the corner table’s shocked reactions and staff sprinting toward the wreckage before the dust had even settled. Toomath said he instantly got on the phone with 911 when the crash hit, and the speed of his team’s response stunned him.
He described how his staff sprang into action.
“It was like they’d trained for it,” Toomath said. “I just appreciate my staff and how amazing they were to rush toward danger. They jumped, ran out, not even a second, not a thought. They made sure everyone was okay. It says a lot about my crew as a team.”
Two individuals sustained minor injuries, consistent with cuts, scratches and bruises, according to police and Toomath. As he scrolled through images of the damage that occurred, he remarked on the outcome of those involved and the aftermath’s effects on his restaurant.
“It could have been so much worse,” Toomath said.
Despite the initial structural damage to the front of the building, Toomath said he hopes to reopen early next week. Full repairs may take several weeks, as materials are ordered and contractors assess the site. However, the dining area appears to be cleared, and the wall is temporarily boarded up.
Toomath ended on a positive note, emphasizing how fortunate the outcome was, instead of being worse.
“Anything can be replaced,” he said. “The amazing part is that no one was seriously hurt.”
