A routine workout at a New Jersey Planet Fitness turned tragic when a 72-year-old man was killed after an SUV smashed through the front of the building.
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Per CBS News, the man had been exercising near the large front windows of the Newark Avenue gym in Elizabeth when a 69-year-old driver lost control of her maroon Jeep and crashed straight through the glass around 12:20 p.m. Another man, 59, was hurt while running on a treadmill but was released from the hospital a day later. The driver suffered only minor injuries from the airbag.
No charges will be filed, Elizabeth officials told the New York Post. The city's buildings department has ordered the gym closed until structural damage is fully inspected.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, with police saying all parties are cooperating. Members told CBS News the crash zone covered treadmills, free weights, and even a seating area — all spots typically filled during peak hours.
"If this happened later in the day, when kids come in after school, it could have been much worse," member Frank McClain said.
Planet Fitness issued a statement calling the incident a "tragic accident," adding that the safety of its members and staff is its top priority.
Planet Fitness, Inc., based in Hampton, New Hampshire, is one of the largest fitness chains in the world with roughly 2,600 clubs across the U.S., Canada, Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico, Spain and Australia.
Founded in 1992 when Michael and Marc Grondahl acquired a struggling Gold's Gym in Dover, New Hampshire, the company has since branded itself as a "Judgement Free Zone" catering to casual gym-goers. Planet Fitness went public in 2015 and continues to expand, with National Fitness Partners acquiring more than 20 of its clubs in 2024.
