ABBEVILLE, La. ( KLFY )– The Cajun Claws restaurant in Abbeville was hit by a driver trying to get away from police Sunday night.

According to Abbeville Police, officers responded to a call about a shoplifter at Walmart.

Police tried stopping the 32-year-old suspect, Kevin Collins, resulting in a high-speed chase.

Police said Collins lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the building.

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“It was an additionally tough year. The crawfish supply was really low, and so we had hopes that we were able to kind of persevere again through this season,” Kyle Choate, son of the Cajun Claws owners, said. “And this was a real tough blow to be at the end of the of a season like that.”

Choate said the restaurant holds sentimental value in their family, with the bar built out of wood from his grandfather’s barn to the entire family working at the restaurant.

“It’s a small mom and pop operation, and they have persevered over years through many things. COVID being one big one. And we were extremely grateful that we were able to keep our doors open through COVID,” Choate said. “And then something like this happens, which is not a natural disaster, it was human made. And it’s just really unfortunate to see your life’s work kind of in shambles.”

The family does plan to rebuild in hopes of opening for next crawfish season.

“I think that’s a real big one, is that small businesses really help to make our small communities run. Abbeville is a smaller town that hasn’t seen its best days, and this establishment brings people from all over the place,” Choate said. “And I think supporting small businesses in this current situation, however, you can is really important.”

A GoFundMe was created to help the owners rebuild Cajun Claws.

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