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Man killed, others injured when SUV crashes into Elizabeth Planet Fitness

The crash happened around 12:20 p.m. Tuesday on Newark Avenue.

Matt Trapani and Joti Rekhi

Aug 26, 2025, 6:36 PM

Updated 2 hr ago

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A man was killed and other people were injured when an SUV crashed into a Planet Fitness gym in Elizabeth, according to police.
The crash happened around 12:20 p.m. Tuesday on Newark Avenue.
Police say a 69-year-old woman crashed through the gym, fatally injuring a 72-year-old man who was standing near the front window. They say that a 59-year-old man who was on the treadmill at the time of the crash sustained cuts and abrasions. The driver was also injured when the airbag deployed, according to police.
A large crowd of gym members gathered soon after the crash. Some had arrived after the crash, expecting to work out, only to find the gym damaged.
“I was totally shocked. Very in shock, because it would have been me over there,” says gym member Kevin.
“It’s shocking that something like this could happen,” says Andre Harden, of Elizabeth. “II find out [who died,] I won’t be surprised if I’ve seen him before. It’s just a tragedy.”
Crews towed the SUV out of the building just before 5 p.m. Tuesday and the building was boarded up.
It was not clear when the Planet Fitness location would reopen.