Food reviewers escape injury as SUV crashes into restaurant during filming

In Houston, Texas, an alarming incident unfolded at Cuvée's Culinary Creations restaurant, where food influencers Nina Santiago and Patrick Blackwood were dining and filming a YouTube review on a Saturday afternoon. Their brunch experience dramatically shifted when an SUV crashed through the restaurant’s front window, narrowly missing the pair and causing chaos in the establishment. This frightening encounter left the influencers scrambling from their booth as glass shattered around them, startling both staff and fellow patrons. Fortunately, the influencers escaped with injuries that required hospital treatment. The incident took place around 4 p.m., coinciding with a busy brunch period at the restaurant, where the influencers were sampling dishes like salmon sliders. Restaurant owner Ivory Watkins recounted being just seconds away from the dining area when the vehicle struck. The footage captured during the event shows the immediate aftermath, featuring debris scattered about as startled employees and other diners watched in shock. Santiago later expressed her immense gratitude for surviving such a dangerous situation, which she described as alarming and surreal. Following their treatment at a local hospital, both Santiago and Blackwood shared their experiences on social media. Santiago voiced her feelings about nearly losing their lives and emphasized appreciating every moment. Blackwood echoed similar sentiments, urging others to cherish the present and live fully, a realization stemming from this traumatic encounter. The restaurant promptly took action after the incident; many of the large glass windows were boarded up to ensure the safety of future patrons while they assessed damages. In the aftermath of the crash, which Watkins described as a freak accident, he praised the quick response of the restaurant’s manager and the emergency personnel who helped Santiago and Blackwood. He detailed his relief at knowing that there were no additional injuries beyond those incurred by the influencers, as the restaurant was not at full capacity at the time. Watkins acknowledged that running a restaurant entails the responsibility of ensuring guests' safety and that he felt he had fallen short during the occurrence, a point he publicly apologized for. The ongoing investigation might clarify what exactly led to the vehicle’s intrusion into the dining space and how to prevent such events in the future.