Two hospitalised after car crashes into Tasmanian cafe

Two people are in hospital with serious injuries after a four-wheel drive ploughed into the Shearwater Food Company near Devonport on Tasmania’s north-west coast last night, injuring customers and a staff member.

The vehicle mounted the footpath and tore through the front of the Club Drive cafe at about 6:45pm, causing extensive damage to the building’s frontage and interior.

Two customers seated outside and one staff member working inside were injured, Tasmania Police Inspector Michelle Elmer said.

A 26-year-old woman was taken to Launceston General Hospital (LGH). “She remains in the LGH with serious injuries,” Inspector Elmer said.

“A 60-year-old man was taken to the North West [Regional] Hospital with injuries and was later released, and the staff member was transported to the North West Regional Hospital and is still in hospital with serious but stable injuries.”

Two men were in the vehicle. The driver was treated at the scene by paramedics and did not require hospital care, while the passenger received minor injuries.

Police earlier described the driver as “elderly” and said he had been “attempting to park outside” the cafe.

“It’s believed that it [the vehicle] was in a parking manoeuvre prior to it going over the footpath,” Inspector Elmer said.

“It wasn’t at road speed; however, it was still significant enough to cause injuries and hit the building.”

No charges have been laid. “Initial investigations indicate that this was not a deliberate action on behalf of the driver, but as to what caused the crash is still under investigation,” she said.

A woman who was seated at a table near the cafe door, and who asked not to be named, said she narrowly avoided being hit and felt “lucky to be alive”.

She said she heard tyres screeching before the impact. “I swung around, and I saw the car coming through the glass window and it missed me by inches,” she said.

“Everything just happened so quickly.”

She said the outcome could have been different had the crash occurred a few minutes earlier, given where she had previously been standing.

“It’s still a huge shock, I’m still in shock now and I think I’m going to be for a little while.”

Police are asking anyone who was at the cafe at the time, or who has information that may assist the investigation, to come forward.

 
Jonathan Jackson, 13th October 2026