Car Flips Over Into Smashburger Lot, Two Injured

A rush-hour motor vehicle accident on Route 10 in Morris Plains sent two people to the hospital early Thursday evening.

Morris Plains Police, Morris Plains Fire Department and the Morris Minute Men Emergency Medical Service were on the scene at 1767 Route 10, a shopping strip that includes Smashburger, Dunkin' Donuts, Sprint and Coldwell Banker Realty.

Shortly after 5 p.m., a Nissan Sentra traveling eastbound on Route 10 flipped over and slide into the parking lot, according to two Sprint employees who witnessed the incident.

"We heard the car braking; it was a screech," Melwyn Cespedes said. "We walked over and within a second, looking through the window, we saw the car turning. It was flying into the turn like it was a drag race, and it couldn't handle it.

"The car hit the corner of the median, then just flipped and slid across the grass and into the parking lot," Cespedes continued. "We rushed out and tried opening the door. We could hear a little girl screaming in there, which made the pressure worse. Finally we [were able to get] the door open and helped pull the door open." 

The two were taken to the hospital. The extent of the injuries was not immediately known.

Cespedes' co-worker, Ian Husbands, said helping the victims was their only thought at the time.

"A lot of people came to help," he said. "A guy from Coldwell Banker, a guy who drove by and called 911. ... It was really fast, maybe about three minutes, before the police and the emergency responders came.

"We just did what we had to do, what anyone would do in that situation. If I were in that situation, I'd want someone to come and get me."

The "guy from Coldwell Banker" declned comment, saying that any credit should go to the emergency responders. With him was an elderly woman who said she was the driver of the vehicle. The woman spoke only broken English and said she was too shaken to comment.

Police and fire officials did not immediately release information regarding the accident.