Driver charged in shipwreck that left 1 dead, 3 injured at restaurant in Siler City

SILER CITY, NC (WNCN) – A driver has been charged after his SUV crashed into a restaurant and parking lot, killing one and injuring three others on Friday afternoon in Siler City, police said on Saturday.
Police said a 64-year-old man died at the scene, but his identity was not released on Saturday. A 77-year-old woman was airlifted to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill in serious condition, according to a press release.
Two other people were also injured at around 1:10 p.m. when an SUV entered the Johnson’s Drive-In parking lot, collided with people, and then crashed into the building, located on US 64 by E. Raleigh Street, police said.
John Salvatore Graviano, 60, of Siler City, who police say was the driver involved, faces multiple charges after the sinking.
In a press release on Saturday, police described how the fatal accident happened.
The wreckage occurred as Graviano was driving west on E. Eleventh Street (US 64), but instead crossed the center line and collided with a vehicle turning left onto E. Raleigh Street from E. Eleventh Street, police said.
After colliding with this vehicle, the driver continued into the oncoming traffic lanes before pulling off the left side road in the grass on the east side of Johnson’s parking lot, the statement said.
The driver then entered the parking lot and collided with pedestrians waiting for food, police said.
The SUV then crashed into the building. Police did not say what prompted Garviano to cross the halfway line.
The other two injured are a 39-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man.
Graviano is charged with the misdemeanor of death by vehicle, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving on the left of center, police said. He was released on $ 1,000 bail with a hearing date set for Dec. 22 in Chatham County District Court.