Car crashes into Quiet Man restaurant in Dover

DOVER – Three teenage males were seriously injured Wednesday when their car crashed directly into the entrance of the Quiet Man restaurant at the corner of Route 46 East and Hudson Street, according to Dover Administrator Donald J. Travisano, who was on the scene.

The accident took place just before noon. The vehicle, a black Volkswagen Jetta sedan, was traveling east on Route 46 when it made a sudden turn directly into the entrance of the restaurant, located right off the sidewalk along the narrow, four-lane section of the highway.

Two of the males in the car were transported by Medevac to an unnamed hospital, while the third was taken by ground transport to Morristown Medical Center, Travisano said.

"Some broken bones, pretty serious, but non-life-threatening as far as I know," Travisano said.

Travisano referred to the vehicle occupants as "juveniles," and later clarified that description by calling them teenagers "of appropriate driving age, but on the younger end of that spectrum."

"The accident is under investigations, as well as what the juveniles were doing in the car," Travisano said.

No bystanders or patrons of the Quiet Man were injured, Travisano said, but the entrance sustained heavy damage. The restaurant was forced to close at lunchtime because of the crash; patrons were outside mingling with residents watching the aftermath and investigation.

The Jetta also sustained heavy damage to the front end. Emergency personnel were inspecting a catch basin next to the car, following reports that oil, fuel or antifreeze from the Jetta may have leaked into it.

Route 46 at 12:45 p.m. was closed in both directions on the two blocks between Passaic and North Bergen streets.

Respondents included Dover police and fire fighters, along with a fire truck from Picatinny Arsenal. Investigators from the Morris County Sheriff's Department also responded to investigate.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6617; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.