Alleged Drunk Driver Backs Car Into Kaufman McDonald's, Injuring Four

Four people were injured after a vehicle backed into the dining area of the McDonald’s in Kaufman, Texas, on Feb. 25, Kaufman Police said. Two of the injured were employees, and NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported that one person was rushed by ambulance to the hospital as the four recovered that evening.

Kaufman Police say the driver briefly left the scene after crashing into the building, but officers spotted him soon after and engaged in a short pursuit before pulling him over and detaining him. Police charged 28-year-old Luis Soto with four counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle, criminal mischief, evading arrest and driving while intoxicated.

Victims at the scene included Nauman Santos, who "took the brunt of the impact," and a woman identified only as Boyd. Santos described facial injuries and extensive stitches, saying, "They said that my nose is fractured from the top point. I have a black eye. I can kind of barely open and see this one. There are 19 stitches, four at the bottom and 15 on the top." Boyd suffered heavy bruising and cut her hand while shielding herself and asked, "Yeah, was it worth putting four people in harm’s way?"

Coworkers and the victims, described by those at the scene as "soon-to-be sisters-in-law," told reporters that Soto had just left the restaurant and that staff members were trying to call 911 at the time the vehicle struck the building. The collision caused visible damage to the restaurant’s front; the location reopened with boarded-up windows while the injured employees recover.

The McDonald’s owners posted on social media a brief message about the incident, writing, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to them...At this time, our top priority is the safety for our crew and customers." The criminal mischief charge filed against Soto reflects the property damage reported by officers at the scene.

Several details remain unconfirmed by police public records. Kaufman Police have not released the exact time of the crash, the full names and ages of all four injured people, which individual was transported by ambulance, any blood alcohol test results, or booking and bond information for Soto. Those documents, including the arrest report and any prosecutor filings, will be needed to clarify the legal timeline and the full scope of injuries.

Kaufman Police have filed the charges against Luis Soto and the case will proceed through the county court system; meanwhile the injured employees are recovering and the franchise is operating with temporary repairs to the dining room pending further damage assessment.