CHATSWORTH : Car Crashes Into Hamburger Stand

The Munch Box burger stand, anchored firmly at the intersection of Devonshire Street and Canoga Avenue, has for 39 years weathered all California threw its way: Valley summer heat, droughts, torrential rains, and even two major earthquakes in 1971 and 1994.

But it was no match for a driver who plowed his pickup truck through the popular eatery early Monday morning.

A driver who fell asleep at the wheel mowed down a street light, a fire hydrant, a fence and finally, the east wall of the 400-square foot fast-food burger joint.

Reseda resident Robert Ray Smith, 28, told police that he had been up all night playing pool and darts and that he started to fall asleep while he was driving to his girlfriend’s house, said police.

“The next thing I knew, I was inside the Munch Box,” Smith told police. There were no charges filed in the incident.

With spirit undeterred, Munch Box owner Buck Barker said he’d reopen within a week. Barker will have to repair the wall and replace his stove, a picnic bench, soda machines and other equipment damaged in the accident.

The Munch Box, described by residents as a Chatsworth institution, spans two generations of burger lovers, high school kids and their parents alike.

With the help of patrons such as 48-year-old Warner Wells, a customer since his days at Chatsworth High School, Barker will have no problems fulfilling his pledge.

Wells heard police sirens from his construction business a block away from the Munch Box and stopped by to lend a hand. Wells arrived to see the truck “pretty well into the building” and a damaged fire hydrant gushing water.

“I came up to offer him some help if he needed any materials,” Wells said.

Some lunchtime customers who stopped by helped Barker load salvaged equipment onto a truck.

A few angry burger-loving patrons offered to “get the guy” responsible for the mess.

Sean Nelson, a student at Moorpark College, was on his way to a friend’s house when he spotted the hole in the wall of his favorite burger stand. Nelson grabbed a pair of work gloves and began helping with the cleanup.

Ed Bannister, a former Chatsworth business owner, left the area two years ago, but comes by every week to eat at the Munch Box.

“I came by to get a Diet Coke, and I drove up and saw this,” Bannister said. “Even though it’s out of my way, I still come here because of the people.”

“The people” are Barker and his wife, who have been running the burger stand since 1985, when Barker’s uncle asked him to take over the restaurant that he founded in 1955.

Barker, famous not only for his hickory burgers and chili dogs, but also for his work in the community, will receive the Citizen of the Year award from the Chatsworth Coordinating Council.

Last April, Barker held a fund-raiser for a 13-year-old girl who was comatose for 80 days after being hit by a car. The girl, who is still undergoing physical therapy, played on the same baseball team as Barker’s 13-year-old son. Barker opened the restaurant for five hours on a Friday night and donated all proceeds to the girl’s family to help pay medical expenses.

“He’s a good guy. That’s what it boils down to,” Bannister said.