1 Killed As SUV Crashes Into Outdoor Diners At Jersey Shore Restaurant

LAVALLETTE, NJ — A Toms River woman was killed and several people were injured on Saturday when an SUV hit people as they were dining outside at a Lavallette restaurant, Lavallette police said.

The crash was reported at 11:12 a.m. at Meg's Grill at 1401 Grand Central Ave., police said.

The driver of a 2014 Buick Encore, a 93-year-old Lavallette woman, was trying to park in front of the restaurant when she hit the accelerator instead of the brake, police said. The SUV accelerated quickly into the outdoor dining area and into the building, police said.

"Seven patrons of the restaurant were injured and transported to the hospital with a variety of injuries," police said.

The 56-year-old woman who died was not identified Saturday.

The driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries, police said.

None of the restaurant's staff members were injured, according to the owner of Meg's Grill, who posted a pair of messages on the restaurant's Facebook page.

Meg's Grill will be closed Sunday and Monday, the owner wrote.

"Our building is fine and was undamaged. But I can’t say the same for our hearts," the owner wrote. "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."

"Please give an enormous hug to your loved ones tonight. Thank you for all your kind words and thoughts," the owner wrote.

"I would also like to say that the emergency response teams were incredible," the owner wrote, along with customers who immediately jumped into action, which "was a testament to how incredible humanity really is. We are grateful for everyone."

The crash remains under investigation, police said.

In addition to Lavallette police, the fire department, Lavallette First Aid and the borough's building department responded, along with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, the Toms River Police Department and EMS, the Ocean Beach Fire Department, the Seaside Heights Police and Fire Departments, and TriBoro EMS, Lavallette police said.