A 93-year-old driver crashed an SUV into an outdoor restaurant patio in Lavallette, New Jersey, on Saturday, September 19, 2026, resulting in one death and seven injuries. The incident occurred shortly after 11 a.m. at Meg’s Grill while the driver was reportedly attempting to park her vehicle.
According to reports from News 12 New Jersey, the driver of the 2014 Buick Encore hit the gas instead of the brake pedal. This caused the vehicle to travel through the restaurant’s outdoor dining area and strike the building. The Lavallette Police Department stated that the restaurant is located across the street from the local police station.
Authorities confirmed that a 56-year-old woman from Toms River, New Jersey, died as a result of the crash. Seven other patrons were transported to hospitals with injuries of varying severity. The 93-year-old driver, a resident of Lavallette, sustained minor injuries. Neither the driver nor the victims have been publicly identified by law enforcement.
While the restaurant staff was uninjured and the building remained intact, photos from the scene showed significant damage to the exterior wall of a liquor store next door. Meg’s Grill announced via Facebook that it would remain closed on Sunday, September 20, and Monday, September 21, out of compassion for those affected, with plans to reopen on Tuesday, September 22.
The concrete day-to-day change for the community includes the temporary closure of a local business through Monday, September 21, and the physical damage to adjacent property. Residents and patrons will notice the absence of the establishment’s services for two days as the staff recovers from the event. For the families of the injured, the impact is measured in hospital stays and recovery times for injuries that police described as having varying degrees of severity.
The knock-on effects include an ongoing investigation by the Lavallette Police Department into the circumstances of the crash. While the driver has not been identified, the event may prompt local discussions regarding traffic safety near outdoor dining structures. What happens next depends on the police investigation and the recovery of the injured patrons; the restaurant is currently scheduled to resume operations on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.