Car crashes through Elizabeth, N.J. school wall, injuring student, official says
A New Jersey high school student was injured Monday when a driver crashed through the wall of their school, officials said.
The vehicle smashed into an exterior wall of Elizabeth High School's John E. Dwyer Technology Academy auditorium at around 8 a.m. after it drove over the curb and sidewalk, according to an official with the city of Elizabeth.
The driver was spotted going erratically on Bridge Street and then running a red light on Pearl Street before careening into the brick wall of the school, the official said.
Fortunately, there were no serious injures. One student reported a minor leg injury and was taken to Beth Israel Hospital as a precaution, police said.
"One of the kids got hit by a brick. That is what I heard. But they are doing OK," student Brian Willis said.
The driver was taken to University Hospital for injuries that also appeared to be minor, officials added.
A teacher was in the auditorium at the time of the crash, and they were not injured, the district said.
"I think it's crazy," student Diego Sinche said. "Something must have happened in that car."
"I saw several videos of people being inside the actual auditorium at the moment, and they started leaving immediately," student Dayry Nina said. "If it was earlier, people could have actually got run over."
Investigators were looking at surveillance video from inside the school, however there was no immediate word on how the driver lost control.
Pearl Street was closed for repairs, while the school remained open for the day. The building was deemed structurally sound, and by noon, the hole was boarded up. .