SANFORD — The driver of  a car that careened into the inside of the Third Alarm Diner on Tuesday failed to yield the right of way to an oncoming car as he was crossing an intersection and that ultimately led to the crash into the restaurant police said in a Thursday update.

Two patrons were taken to hospital  in the 3:30 p.m. mishap. Police on Thursday identified one of them as Rodney Fitzgerald, 75, of Sanford, who first taken to the Sanford campus of Southern Maine Health Care before being airlifted by helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Police said Fitzgerald was thought to have sustained possible internal injuries. A Maine Medical Center spokesman on Thursday said he had no information to relay.

According to Deputy Police Chief Tim Strout, a vehicle operated by Mark Nolet, 28, of Sanford entered Washington Street from Riverside Avenue traveling towards Pioneer Avenue. A second vehicle, operated by Janice Frith, 42, of Springvale, was traveling east on Washington Street, turning right onto Pioneer Avenue when Nolet failed to yield right of way, resulting in a collision. Strout said Nolet continued driving and crashed into a third vehicle, operated by Allen Perillo, 50, of Berwick, who was stopped at the stop  sign at Pioneer Avenue and Washington Street. After hitting Perillo’s vehicle, Nolet’s sedan careened struck the building. 

Strout said none of the motorists were injured.

Nolet was arrested and charged with driving without a license and is scheduled to appear at Springvale District Court Jan. 9.

The Third Alarm Diner is closed until repairs can be made. The owners could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.