North Stonington ― A tractor-trailer veered off Route 2 about 7:45 a.m. Thursday and crashed into Buon Appetito Ristorante & Pizzeria at 386 Norwich-Westerly Road.

The North Stonington Volunteer Fire Company was the first on scene. Chief Charles Steinhart V said the tractor-trailer was traveling east on Route 2, and he’s not sure what caused the vehicle to cross the parking lot and hit the building.

First responders arrived to find the driver still in the truck and assisted him out of the vehicle, Steinhart said. He was transported to the hospital via North Stonington Ambulance, which state police said was as a precaution, that nobody was injured.

Steinhart said the truck hit the corner of the dining area and destroyed the patio, but restaurant owner Petrit Marku was grateful it wasn’t worse ― thanking God that the driver is alive.

“Thank God nobody died. That’s the most important part,” he said. He added, “God stopped the trailer on the corner.”

He has two family members who live upstairs, and he said they were traumatized but uninjured.

Marku, who met with First Selectman Bob Carlson on Thursday, will have to keep part of the restaurant closed ― as there is damage to the event room ― but still opened for dinner Thursday.

Carlson said the building and fire inspectors were on scene, and the pergola on the back patio was taken down, as it was dangerous. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Ledge Light Health District also responded, and state police are investigating the accident.

Police said the truck was carrying grocery items.

“It’s a shame,” Carlson said. “It’s the summer, it’s his busy season, especially with that outdoor patio that he’s developed over the past few years, so you always feel bad for a small business when something like this happens.”

e.moser@theday.com