Church Closed After Car Smashes Through Its Wall In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River church is closed for repairs after a car smashed into one of its walls Thursday morning, Toms River police said.

St. Justin the Martyr Roman Catholic Church on Fischer Boulevard is closed after the building sustained "considerable damage to the structure" and was deemed unsafe by the Toms River Township Building Department, said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

There were no injuries in the crash that happened shortly before 10:30 a.m., Messina said.

Rev. Mark A. Kreder, pastor at St. Justin, said the church's insurance company had a repair crew out Thursday to shore up the building.

"The men are working diligently," Kreder said Thursday evening in a post on the church's Facebook page. "Tomorrow (Friday), the Township will make a determination as to if we will be able to use the building this weekend."

Parishioners should check the church's website and Facebook page for updates, he said.

"I would like to thank the Toms River Police Department, who as always are most professional and helpful, the EMS workers, the Toms River East Fire Department and all those who responded to this accident," Kreder wrote. "We are grateful to Almighty God that no one was injured."

Frances Baranowski, 86, of Brick, told police she was trying to pull out of her parking spot at the church when her foot became stuck on the gas pedal and behind the brake pedal, and her car accelerated forward, hit the curb and went airborne before it hit the building, police said. The car was moderately damaged on its front end, Messina said.

Photos of the crash site show the car partly into the brick wall of the church.

Baranowski refused medical treatment at the scene, Messina said.

Toms River Police Officer Will Resetar is investigating.

Note: This article has been updated with comment from the church's pastor.