WATERLOO - Paul Hein, the owner of Pablo's Mexican Grill, died early Saturday from injuries in a car accident.

The 35-year-old Waverly man was driving east on Orange Road at about 2:43 a.m. when his car rolled several times after leaving the road near the intersection with U.S. Highway 218.

Authorities did not say whether he died at the scene or at a hospital.

Hein had just become engaged on Feb. 18, said Lee Cronkhite, Hein's friend and business partner.

Cronkhite and Hein opened Pablo's in March 2004 on Main Street in Cedar Falls, and recently opened a store in Waverly.

Both locations remained open today, Cronkhite said, but will close on Tuesday for Hein's funeral.

"We decided to keep the store up and running. We're sure that's what he would have wanted," he said.

Cronkhite said Hein's passion for good, spicy food led him to quit his job at Dynamic Broadband several years ago to focus on running the restaurant, which sells the giant, two-plus-pound burritos Hien first fell in love with in college.

"He really enjoyed hot, spicy food. He always kept a bottle of the hottest thing on the planet in his fridge, and broke that out every once in awhile."

When not working, Cronkhite said Hein enjoyed spending time outdoors with friends, and on his plot of land in Waverly.

Contact Jens Manuel Krogstad at (319) 291-1580 or jens.krogstad@wcfcourier.com.