Car Plows into Front of Hammonton Fish Market
HAMMONTON - An elderly couple was unhurt after their car crashed into a fish market Thursday.
Tony Vitale, who has owned the Village Fish Market on the White Horse Pike since 1985, was in his store's freezer when he heard "a loud bang" shortly after noon. The noise was the sound of a large sedan crushing the front of his store inward, shattering two large windows and hurling inventory across the room.....Continue Reading
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An elderly couple was inside the car, according to Police Chief Frank Ingemi.
"They were planning to go into the store and thought they had put their car in park, but it was still in drive,'" Ingemi said.
The out-of-town couple, whose names were unavailable, were unharmed, but the driver was issued a careless driving summons, Ingemi said.
No one in the store was injured either, Vitale said, but the store will have to close for several weeks until repairs can be completed.
Vitale said he also would have to discard at least $5,000 worth of fresh seafood due to the incident.
"We are already taking an inventory of everything right now so we can report it to our insurance company," Vitale said shortly after the crash. "Hopefully, it will only take about two to three weeks to get everything back to normal."
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Car smashes into fish market
By BEN MERITT
Staff Writer
HAMMONTON -- Vitale's Village Fish Market in the Village Shops off the White Horse Pike will be closed for up to three weeks while owners repair damage caused by a car that plowed through the structure.
No one was hurt in the accident, which occurred shortly after noon Feb. 5.
Owner Tony Vitale was in the store's freezer putting away a delivery when the accident happened. Vitale's wife and daughter were in the store's kitchen at the time.
"A customer of ours was pulling in and apparently he did not put his foot on the brake and hit the gas by mistake and plowed through," Vitale said. "It sounded like something fell off the shelf. I came out and saw the car into the building."
Cans, boxes and bottles littered the floor of the store after the crash.
The driver -- John Falcone, 73, of Kings Park, N.Y. -- and his wife -- Frances Falcone, also 73 -- were not hurt, according to Hammonton police.
John Falcone received a summons for reckless driving from Hammonton police Patrolman Peter Hagerty. Falcone was able to drive his 2005 Marquis after the crash.
Due to health regulations, Vitale had to dispose of thousands of dollars of fresh seafood.
"We have to do an inventory and throw out whatever was in the ice display," he said.
Originally published February 11, 2009
This story was taken from the news source stated above. It is not necessarily the opinion of The Elwood Fire Vol Company or it's members.
