On a Sunday evening, a serious incident occurred when a car crashed into an O’Charley’s restaurant in Reynoldsburg, resulting in injuries to twelve people. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) transported seven individuals to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Columbus’ Comedic Reputation for Car Crashes
The event has sparked renewed interest in Columbus’ peculiar history of vehicles crashing into buildings. A TikTok clip from the debut episode of the podcast “What’s News With You” showcases this phenomenon. Comedians Josh Johnson and Ashley Gavin, along with guest Geoffrey Asmus, poked fun at local driving habits during their show.
Podcast Highlights
- The episode aired on March 6, featuring discussions about unusual driving incidents.
- Asmus humorously questioned the logic behind crashing vehicles into storefronts, remarking, “In the parking lot? That doesn’t even make sense.”
- The clip went viral on TikTok, particularly after a caller mentioned crashes at a Kroger in Delaware on January 5.
Comments on the post highlighted Columbus drivers’ reputation, leading to tags related to an Instagram account, cbuscarikaze, which chronicles such crashes.
Crashes Statistics and Trends
While Columbus police do not track specific incidents of cars crashing into buildings, the Instagram account reports a notable increase in incidents. In 2025 alone, the account has documented 67 crashes, compared to 226 in the previous year, 2024. This trend prompted discussions about the safety of storefronts, with research suggesting that approximately 24% of these incidents involve retail locations.
The crash at O’Charley’s adds to a growing concern over car-building collisions in the city, stimulating conversations about necessary safety measures, such as storefront barriers, to prevent future occurrences.
This latest incident and the accompanying comedy podcast highlight an ironic aspect of Columbus culture, blending humor and a serious conversation about road safety.
