The driver slumped over the wheel and her foot remained on the accelerator pedal before she crashed into a restaurant in Eagleswood, authorities said
EAGLESWOOD -- A Manahawkin woman slipped into unconsciousness just before she crashed into the side of a restaurant in Eagleswood earlier this week, killing herself and another family member as well as injuring two other passengers, authorities said Friday.
When Patty Rulon lost consciousness around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, she slumped over the steering wheel of her 2009 GMC Acadia and her foot remained on the accelerator pedal, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
He said the SUV, traveling north on Route 9, crossed over the southbound lane, ran up a short bank of shrubs and bushes and slammed into the southeast corner of Callaway's Restaurant.
2 killed, 1 critically injured after SUV slams into restaurant
Rulon, 54, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her front seat passenger, Albert Rulon, 91, of Tuckerton, died en route by helicopter to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Della Fave said. Della Fave did not immediately know how the two are related.
Another relative, a 15-year-old boy sitting behind the driver, was airlifted to Jersey Shore Regional Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of possible broken ribs and internal injuries. He was listed in stable condition on Friday, Della Fave said. There was no immediate information on how the teen was related.
Another back seat passenger Juliette Adomaa, 44, who was Albert Rulon's live-in caregiver, was partially ejected from the backseat and suffered shoulder and head injuries but was in stable condition, Della Fave said.
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