Driver Will Not Face Charges After Deadly SUV Crash at New Jersey Planet Fitness

A guy died and another man was hurt when an SUV plowed into the front of a Planet Fitness gym in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Authorities say that the 69-year-old woman who was driving will not be charged.

The big glass windows of the gym on Newark Avenue were damaged by the maroon SUV just after noon on Tuesday. Witnesses reported that others in the gym yelled and hurried to help those who had been hit by debris. A lot of people at the gym were astonished by how quickly the hit happened.

City officials claimed that a man who was 72 years old and stood near the front windows perished. People who were into fitness and first responders tried to save him, but he died. A 59-year-old guy who was running on a treadmill near the scene of the accident was treated and released after getting a few cuts and bruises. The driver was hurt a little when the airbag went off.

Authorities say that all of the people who survived the crash were sent home. Officials also said that they would not name the man who died out of respect for his family.

Shocking footage from a gym that was published on social media showed the SUV crashing through the front. People who were there rushed to clear away the debris off the victim while others cried in shock and anguish. The sad scene demonstrated how the event affected the victims and the gym community.

City spokesperson Ruby Contreras claimed that the driver has been helpful with the inquiries. Officials claimed she won’t be penalized because it looked like the event was an accident. Authorities are looking into what made the SUV crash into the gym.

For safety considerations, city officials shut down Planet Fitness until structural engineers could check its stability. There has been no word on when the gym will open again.

A lot of people in the area have extended their condolences to the victim’s family and assistance to the injured. The city has promised the public that all necessary safety steps are being taken while the investigation is still going on.

Sources:

City of Elizabeth Officials
Union County Authorities
Eyewitness Accounts