Roof collapses at restaurant as grandmother and grandson were picking up food

WACO, Texas (KWTX/Gray News) – A restaurant’s roof collapsed on a grandmother and her grandson while they were picking up their food.

Linda Smith and her grandson were at Taco Bueno in Waco, Texas, on Thursday when the restaurant’s roof collapsed during a thunderstorm.

Smith said the power flickered, and she heard two large “booming” sounds before the roof fell to the floor.

“You really think, ‘Do we make it out of this one?’ We didn’t make it to the doors before the entire roof collapsed. When I opened those doors, it was like the Pasadena Adventure wall of water just coming out of the door and out of the ceiling. I’m OK. The nightmares start now. It’s one of those, you go back and go, ‘What if?’” Smith said.

Seconds before the roof collapsed, Smith said she screamed at her grandson, who is deaf, to get out of the booth and get to the door.

When the roof fell, she thought he was buried under the rubble.

“I would do whatever I had to do to get him out and dang sure prepared to do just that. I didn’t think he make it out,” Smith said.

She said if it had not been for being aware of her surroundings and quick thinking, a trip to pick up food could have ended in a trip to the hospital.

Smith said even though she lost one of her favorite fast-food restaurants, she still has her life and her family.

“You have your loved ones with you. Watch, watch for them, watch for whatever happens that you have no control over,” Smith said.

Taco Bueno’s communications team said the organization is currently assessing the damage to the building and will know soon when they can reopen.

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