It was going to be Sidney Fulton’s weekend to shine.

The owner of Popeyes Fried Chicken on Chestnut Street was preparing to be inducted into the South Carolina State University Athletic Hall of Fame tonight when real life intruded.

At about midnight Wednesday, he got a call that someone had driven a car through his restaurant. Now it’s temporarily closed as he awaits insurance adjusters, contractors and the other people you call when things go wrong.

“It was going to be a wonderful weekend, and then this happened,” he said.

Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Capt. Ed Conner says a 25-year-old is facing misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and open container in the incident. Officials are also going to test yellowish pills found in his car.

“We had a gentleman exiting a private parking lot off Chestnut into the roadway, and he obviously lost control of the car because of the rate of acceleration,” Conner said. The car crossed Chestnut, jumped the grassy area in front of the restaurant, went through the parking lot and struck the business.

“It came to rest halfway into the business,” Conner said.

While the restaurant is closed, the employees will be giving it an extra cleaning and receiving additional training. It employs 25.

Fulton said the incident won’t dampen his spirits.

“I’m always optimistic,” he said

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