Fire Rescue News - One man injured after being hit by a Fire Hydrant
SOMERS POINT--One person died and two others were seriously injured after a car crashed into a popular Somers Point bar. Sources close to the investigation say it's believed alcohol was involved.
"All I heard was like the craziest boom I've ever heard, like I can still hear it." It was a sound, followed by an.......Continue Reading
image that Kelly Dugan says she'll never forget. "It was horrible, I couldn't even sleep," she said, "the car, was like a soda can, just shattered."
Dugan was one of many who was at Gregory's Bar in Somers Point just after one o'clock Thursday morning when a car crashed into the building. Authorities say the driver, 21 year-old Antonio Vargas, was speeding south on Shore Road just before the crash, which left him with life-threatening injuries. His passenger, 33 year-old Kevin Botta, was killed. "Never did I think it would be Kevin, never in a million years," said his friend, Erika Capone, "we go out all the time, never in a million years would I have thought this would happen."
Investigators say the car hit the building, after first hitting a telephone pole and a fire hydrant, which was then launched nearly a block by the impact, and struck 26 year-old Joe Higbee, who was standing outside the bar, where friends say he had been celebrating his birthday. "It's a very sad time and we work in a very happy business," said Gregory Gregory, owner of Gregory's Bar, "it's a shame that we have to have a day like this."
Work was being done to repair the damage to the building, which owners say was miraculously, only cosmetic. There were more than 100 people inside the bar at the time of the crash, but none of them was injured. "We're very very fortunate that it wasn't worse than it turned out to be," said Gregory.
Sources close to the investigation say it's believed alcohol was a factor in the fatal crash. It's something friends say, unfortunately, they're not surprised to hear. "I hope that everyone that watches this, or hears about this, I hope that they think twice before they drink and drive," said Capone.
"Learn, like don't drink and drive," said Dugan, "don't speed around in the middle of the night places where you know there's people walking around."
No charges have been filed, but authorities say they're still investigating. Meanwhile, Vargas remains in the hospital in critical condition, and Higbee is still hospitalized in fair condition.
The bar re-opened this afternoon.
