Car accident takes out patriotic statues at Oak Harbor restaurant

Above, A car accident near Franks Place restaurant in Oak Harbor damaged several statues in front of the restaurant. that once stood upon a memorial wall he and others built for veterans.

image credit: Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

The way Frank Pulu sees it, the statues that have stood in front of his restaurant in Oak Harbor for years represent more than a tribute to veterans of military service.

Last Friday night, Pulu believes they might have saved a life.

Several statues that stand in front of Franks Place restaurant on State Highway 20 were destroyed during a single-car accident that sent the car off the road and resting on its side.

Pulu said the brass replica of the Statue of Liberty took the brunt of the force, and he knew the impact was severe because the massive concrete base in which the statue rested was lifted from the ground. He estimates the base weighed at least two tons.

The accident also took out three other statues, including a sailor and a Seabee, a symbol for the U.S. Naval construction battalion.

The driver, Keith Ferguson, 50, needed to be extricated from his car by the fire department and was transported to Whidbey General Hospital.

Pulu had heard the driver wasnt seriously injured.

If it wasnt for the statues Pulu said, standing in front of his restaurant at a level lower than the street. I think Lady (Liberty) saved his life and saved the business.

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Car accident takes out patriotic statues at Oak Harbor restaurant