fright of their lives when a car smashed into the store.

The out-of-control Suzuki Swift careened through the window of Mr. Chicken, at Heron Bay, last night coming to rest at a spot where moments earlier 15 people had been standing in line.

The accident could have had a more serious ending but for a concrete pillar which halted the car's progress.

It is understood the elderly driver -- who was not identified -- was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment for minor injuries, following the incident, which happened at 6.30 p.m.

Mr. Chicken owner David Furbert said it was sheer good fortune that nobody was injured when the car made its entry, taking out two eight-feet-by-four-feet glass window panes.

"Two minutes before there were probably 15 people standing right at that spot,'' he said. "At the time (of the accident) there were two people there but they managed to jump out of the way.'' The car knocked an ice machine across the store and sent flying glass as far as the kitchen.

"The car caught the concrete pillar in the store, that is what stopped it, other than that it would have taken the counter out and the cashiers could have been injured,'' Mr. Furbert said.

Police and firefighters were called to the incident. The store was kept open after a clean-up operation.