Lacey Man Who Crashed Into Der Wunder Wiener Fined: Report

BERKELEY, NJ — The Lacey Township man whose SUV smashed into the iconic Der Wunder Wiener food stand, nearly killing owner Gerald LaCrosse has been fined on a charge of careless driving in the crash, according to a report.

Mark Poplawski, 52, of Forked River, was fined $236 plus court costs in Berkeley Township Municipal Court on Wednesday, Jersey Shore Online reported.

Poplawski originally was issued six motor vehicle summonses in the crash, including ones for careless driving, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, driving in an unsafe manner, operating a motor vehicle on public lands, and failure to exhibit registration, Patch reported previously.

All but the careless driving charge were dropped in a plea agreement that LaCrosse agreed to, according to Jersey Shore Online.

LaCrosse, 75, a well-liked member of the community and a Beachwood councilman, was severely injured in the June 11 crash that destroyed the popular food stand at the Beachwood Shopping Center on Route 9.

LaCrosse, who was trapped under the stand, had to be airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. He underwent several surgeries and spent more than six weeks recovering in the hospital and at a nearby rehabilitation center before returning home in late July. He told Jersey Shore Online his shoulder, which was dislocated in the crash, has not fully healed and Lacrosse still cannot raise his arm above his waist.

The food stand had been his family's livelihood for decades. A GoFundme set up in June to help with expenses is still active and is about $3,000 shy of its $15,000 goal. There were additional fundraisers held to help LaCrosse and his family as well.

Poplawski initially told police he may have fallen asleep when his SUV left the southbound lane of Route 9 and hit the stand. He later told police he did not remember the crash. Officers at the scene said he did not show any signs of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Berkeley police said. LaCrosse was working at the stand making some repairs on a day it was normally closed at the time of the crash. He suffered multiple injuries and internal bleeding and spent several days in intensive care at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

LaCrosse is hoping to rebuild the food stand and initially said he was hopeful of reopening in the spring of 2019. He will need approvals from Berkeley Township, which now owns the shopping center, to return to that site.

Click here to contribute to the GoFundme.

Gerald LaCrosse and his wife at Der Wunder Wiener, photo via GoFundme, a Patch promotional partner