From the San Diego Union Tribune, April 26th, 1964

Car Smashes S.D. Bar, Taking Life Of Patron
 
One person was killed and seven were injured yesterday when a car crashed through the front of an East San Diego cocktail lounge and slammed into the bar where several patrons were sitting.

 The car crashed through the double door and glass entranceway of the Tower restaurant and bar at 4757 University Ave. Thomas J Seery, 47, of 4079 Euclid Ave was killed when he was crushed between the car and bar, Deputy Coroner Max Murphy said. Seery's wife, Catherine, 43, was hospitalized with multiple injuries.

DRIVER JAILED
Also hospitalized were James D. Miller, 46, of 4218 49th Street.; his wife, Corrine, 50; Sumner Stanley, 44, of 5240 Landis St.; his wife, Wilma, 46, and Jere L. Davis, co-owner, who was tending bar.

The driver, James Nelson Spencer, 51, an auto mechanic, of 4151 35th St, was jailed on suspicion of manslaughter and felony drunk driving. He suffered minor injuries.

 Most injuries were caused by flying glass and debris. Investigating officer George H. Bye said.

GLASS FLIES

 Police said Spencer's car was eastbound on University Avenue at high speed when it ran a red light at Euclid Avenue, was struck by another car and veered off into the bar.

 The doors and glass front of the bar were shattered. The bar was crumpled and shoved against a back wall. The entranceway of the building faces the corner of University Avenue and Reno Street on an angle with the bar running behind it parallel to University Avenue.

J.C.Wagner, co-owner of the bar, said the car crashed through the doorway, sending glass flying and continued on down along the bar, crumbling it and running down patrons.

Police blocked off University Avenue between Euclid Avenue and 48th Street as more than 300 persons gathered at the scene. All traffic was rerouted to side streets around the accident scene for nearly one half hour. Seery was owner of a tile shop at 3889 Euclid Ave.

Police knocked a hole in the opposite wall of the building to pry the car away from the bar in order to free Sumner who also was pinned. He was the most seriously injured of the six taken to the hospitals, police said.