A traffic accident at the intersection of Franklin and Lyndale Aves. Sunday sent a car careening into the front entrance of Rudolphs, a popular rib restaurant.

Minneapolis Police spokesman Sgt. Bill Palmer said four children were in the van that crashed, three of whom were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. They were all either wearing seat belts or in child safety seats.

Rudolphs General Manager Tim McHugh said the man and passenger in the other car refused medical treatment.

The entrance to Rudolphs, below the restaurant's iconic revolving sign, sustained extensive damage. The business remains open, however, and customers are using a side door.

Timothy Leonard, who works at the restaurant, was cleaning the sidewalk just feet away from the accident. He said he was "three seconds" from being killed.

"I'm the luckiest man alive," Leonard said. "I would have been gone. That would have been it."

Eric Roper