Athens Fire Chief Danny Southard surveys the damage done Monday when the driver of this Jeep Grand Cherokee struck a block wall in the drive-thru lane at Taco Bell on South Jefferson Street about 12:30 p.m. The driver was treated at Athens-Limestone Hospital.

Workers at Taco Bell were busy Monday with the lunch-hour traffic when they heard a crash that rattled the building.

Outside, a motorist — Yesenia Martinez, 17, of 19261 Airfield St. in Athens — had accidentally plowed her blue Jeep Grand Cherokee into a block wall of the drive-thru lane about 12:30 p.m. Martinez was alert at the scene but was taken to the Athens-Limestone Hospital emergency room.

A manager at the fast-food restaurant on South- Jefferson Street said he thought the motorist mistakenly “hit the gas” and struck the wall. However, the manager declined to be interviewed citing store policy.

Police confirmed Martinez had accidentally stepped on the gas pedal.

“She was in line at the drive-thru, when she set something down and her foot hit the accelerator, causing her to hit a block wall,” said Officer Johnny Campbell, who investigated the wreck.

Two children were in Martinez’s vehicle, a little girl and an infant in a car seat. Their names and ages were not available from police. Although they did not appear to be injured they were, at least initially, placed in the ambulance that took Martinez to the hospital.

The accident did minimal damage to the restaurant’s block wall but severely dented the SUV’s  driver’s-side, front-quarter panel and tore off the front bumper.

The drive-thru lane was briefly closed while Athens Police investigated the accident and questioned the driver, and a wrecker moved the vehicle.