TYSONS, Va. –- The Silver Diner restaurant in Tysons reopened this weekend, greeting a Mother’s Day crowd just days after a former cook drove his SUV into the building and set himself on fire.
“I remember seeing the big puff of smoke coming up,” diner Brinn Bowen said of the Wednesday crash, noting that she didn’t realize the smoke was coming from the diner.
She and her family were out Sunday morning for a Mother’s Day brunch. Painted plywood covered broken windows, and some minor cosmetic damage remained.
According to police, Samuel O. Abutoh, 59, of Springfield, ran into the diner several times with his SUV before pouring what looked like flammable liquid on his body and lighting himself on fire. He remained in the hospital this weekend from his injuries. Police have obtained warrants charging Abutoh with malicious wounding and destruction of property, police said.
However the Office of the Fire Marshal is also investigating, and additional charges are pending.
A Silver Diner spokeswoman said that Abutoh worked as a cook there for two years, but had been on leave for bereavement since April 5.
Not all diners who came out Sunday were aware of what happened. They were happy a favorite local eatery was open.
“We were concerned that the restaurant might not open again and we really like Silver Diner,” Sylvia Wagner shared.
Most of the patrons were thrilled they wouldn’t have to change their plans. They didn’t have many alternatives in mind.
“The Reston Silver Diner,” Wagner responded after a long pause and hearty chuckle. “We’re really creative.”
Brinn Bowen had a clear alternative.
“I think I would have just made my husband take me home and make me some breakfast.”
A process her husband described simply as “not nearly as exciting as coming to the diner.”
