McDonald's Golden Arches Topple in Arizona Due to High Winds, Crushes Russell and Carolyn Janke's SUV, Couple Sustains Multiple Injuries

The golden arches of a McDonald's restaurant in Window Rock,
Ariz., fell on top of a vehicle carrying Russell and Carolyn Janke.
(Elise Bennett/www.ireport.com-Chicago Sun Times)

Well, fast food giant McDonald's has a new headache this morning. A giant set of golden arches outside one of its eateries in eastern Arizona toppled in high winds Wednesday, crushing Russell and Carolyn Janke's Chevy Trailblazer as they sat inside the parked vehicle. Thankfully they did not die, but sustained multiple injuries. The Naperville, Ill., couple had stopped at the McDonald’s on the Navajo Nation reservation in Window Rock as they were making their way back to Chicago from their winter home near Tucson.

Navajo acting Police Chief Steven Nelson said winds hit 60 mph Wednesday, causing the sign to be blown down from atop a pole across the street from the restaurant. Yep, a freak accident that may have lawsuit written all over it. How could it be that the sign was not properly secured? I have been in 60 mph winds in Jamaica during a tropical storm and that's not enough to bring a well-secured sign down.

Carolyn Janke, 68, was trapped inside the SUV and had to be cut out of the vehicle by rescue crews, Nelson said. Both were taken to the Fort Defiance Indian Health Service. Carolyn Janke was later transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix — about six hours from Window Rock — where she remained in intensive care Thursday, her daughter-in-law, Ann Janke, told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Carolyn Janke, who was knocked unconscious, has a fractured spinal column and a fractured sternum, her daughter-in-law said. Russell Janke, 70, a retired engineer, was hit in the head and “has over 70 stitches,” she said. Source: Chicago Sun Times

Ann Janke, the couple's daughter, said she’s desperately trying to get more information about the accident. I can't say I blame her one bit. They need to get to the bottom of this. I also hope the company won't give this family a hassle to pay their medical bills, especially since Carolyn Janke was reportedly in the intensive care unit.