One person was killed and seven others were injured when a 93-year-old crashed her SUV into a patio teeming with brunch diners on the Jersey Shore over the weekend.
The crash unfolded just after 11 a.m. on Saturday at Meg’s Grill in Lavallette, as a driver of a 2014 Buick Encore was reportedly trying to park — but hit the gas instead of the brake, sending her vehicle speeding into a group of diners, News 12 New Jersey reported.
The Buick plowed through the restaurant’s outdoor patio area and into the building, the Lavallette Police Department said.
Seven restaurant patrons were injured and taken to the hospital with varying degrees of injury.
A 56-year-old woman from Toms River, New Jersey, was killed in the crash, authorities said.
The 93-year-old driver, who was from Lavallette, suffered minor injuries from the crash.
The Lavallette Police Department has not publicly identified the driver, or shared the names of any of the victims.
None of the staff working at Meg’s Grill were injured in the crash, and the building was undamaged, the restaurant wrote on Facebook. Meg’s Grill is located just across the street from the local police department.
“Our building is fine and was undamaged. But I can’t say the same for our hearts. All of our thoughts and prayers are with the people who were hurt. We are closing tomorrow and Monday out of an observance of compassion for my staff and those affected,” the restaurant wrote.
“We plan to reopen Tuesday. If anything changes we will update. Please give an enormous hug to your loved ones tonight.”
Photos published by NJ.com from the scene showed significant damage to the exterior wall of the liquor store next door to the restaurant.
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