Crime & Safety

Sunday Driver: Car Crashes Through Whole Foods, Injuring One

Early morning accident could have been 'severe' at later hour, officials said.

A car crashed through the front of Whole Foods in Ridgewood Sunday morning, closing the store for three hours and leaving a woman with minor injuries.

Fire officials said Monday that an elderly man lost control of his vehicle after 9 a.m. Sunday. The car then careened through an automatic door and drove into the salad bar. It lodged itself in a corner with its wheels peeling out—causing smoke to fill the store.

Ridgewood Fire Liet. Steve Maffei said the man was unharmed and a woman was struck in the incident. She was transported to Valley Hospital with minor head and ankle injuries.

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However, it could have been significantly worse.

"There were only three cars in parking lot, 13 or 14 people shopping, and no one eating at the salad bar," he said. "Had it been at 1:30, 2 p.m. and people eating lunch, this could have been severe."

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Maffei said the car crashed through the salad bar's tables, and if people were sitting there, they most likely would have broken their legs.

Health Supervisor Dawn Cetrulo agreed. 

"Those benches got pushed in, and it could have been pretty bad," she said.

Fire, police, building and health department officials swarmed to the West Side grocery store, evacuating and closing it through 1 p.m.

Strucurally the building sustained no damage, Maffei said, as only an alumnium-framed doorway and window were struck—though glass scattered an estimated 60 feet.

The driver said the accelerator was stuck in and he could not work the brakes. Ridgewood Det. Christopher McDowell said no charges were filed against the driver.

Although the car itself appeared drivable, officials had it towed for fears of its acceleration problem.

Cetrulo ordered any open food within the salad bar and surrounding areas to be thrown out. She said with any incident involving a food service facility, the Division of Health and Wellness has to OK a reopening and that the Whole Foods' staff was "very cooperative, as always."

The glass window frames were covered in a tarp, she said, to "keep dust, flies,  whatever out... " and a solid wall should be gong up soon. The health supervisor will stop by again today.

Fire crews employed smoke ejectors and helped remove debris. Maffei said there was no fuel leak, and that fire crews left scene after 90 minutes.


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