By: Richard L. Smith
Newark Emergency Responder contingency worked to free two individuals pinned against a building after a vehicle crashed into it in the West Ward.
The incident occurred just before midnight at the Cozy Corner bar located at 398 South Orange Avenue, a local landmark for over 40 years.
Authorities reported that the vehicle, which had veered off the road, slammed into the bar that also housed apartments above it.
According to initial reports, the building was evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Newark Firefighters, alongside University Hospital Rescue, were quick to arrive at the scene and successfully extricated the two victims who were seriously injured and pinned against the building by the impact.
EMS immediately transported the victims to University Hospital for treatment, but the extent of their condition has not been released.
Witnesses said the vehicle's occupants fled shortly after the crash, leaving the car behind. There were no reports of a police chase in progress at the time of the accident.
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from Jersey City, Bayonne, and Millburn were called in to ensure the structural stability of the damaged three-story building.
Fortunately, no residents inside the building were injured during the incident, reports stated.
The Newark Police Department continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, seeking information on the occupants who fled the scene.
At the same time, the Newark Building Department assessed the structural integrity of the impacted building.
