SATURDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2021 - At approximately 1:45 AM a silver 2011 Mazda CX7 speeds through an intersection and takes out a traffic poll before smashing into the comic shop, "Little Shop of Comics," on 387 Park Avenue in Scotch Plains. In a video, seen below, the car does not appear to hit the breaks and speeds onto the curb smashing into the building on a quiet street.
At around 30 seconds into the video, two people can be seen exiting the car and walking away before the police arrive. When police finally did arrive, the driver Adrian L. Elias, a 24-year-old Morristown resident, was charged with driving under the influence and assault with a vehicle.Â
Of four total people in the vehicle, the two passengers that walked away appear uninjured. Police reported the one other passenger left in the car with the driver sustained a minor laceration to the head. Elias complained of neck pain and was transported to Overlook Hospital.Â
Several tenants in the apartments above the comic shop were evacuated by the fire department after the building sustained structural damage. In an email to customers, Little Shop of Comics owners Lena and Steven Olsen wrote that "Town officials correctly deemed that there should be no occupancy in the building until the extent of the damage can be determined. Our landlord is on top of the situation and is working diligently to resolve the matter."
The Olsen's also thanked the local police and fire departments for their quick and effective response to the incident.Â
The incident apparently could have been much worse, as the car narrowly missed crashing into the gas meter in front of John's Meat Market, the neighboring shop.
Comments / 0