Motorist Backs Into Hazlet Kmart

A car careened backwards into the front of the Hazlet Tuesday morning -- and incredibly nobody got hurt. 

Marie Barrese, 84, of Hazlet was backing her 2005 Buick LeSabre out of a parking space close to the store. "At the point she was ready to proceed forward, she stepped on the gas instead of the brake," said Hazlet Police Lt. Stephen Schmidt. 

The car reversed backwards onto the low sidewalk, pushing a bottled water display into the two plate glass windows, which nearly impacted a children's coin-operated taxi car ride. 

The crash caused minor structural damage to the store. K-Mart was closed for about a half hour while a building inspector checked the structure.

The Hazlet First Aid responded but Barrese declined medical attention. Although her car sustained damage to the rear bumper, she requested to be driven home, said police.  

Ptl. John Fitzsimmons is the investigating officer.