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Photos: Sedan Downs Elmwood Park Hedge, Fence, Slams Into Minivan, House

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. -- A car slammed into an Elmwood Park house -- narrowly missing a gas meter -- after downing part of a fence and a hedge, hitting a minivan and barreling across several lawns late Saturday morning.

The car finally slammed into this East 54th Street house in Elmwood Park.

The car finally slammed into this East 54th Street house in Elmwood Park.

Photo Credit: Dominick Scalcione for DAILY VOICE
The sedan did damage on one side of the street, then the other.

The sedan did damage on one side of the street, then the other.

Photo Credit: Dominick Scalcione for DAILY VOICE
It came that close to the gas meter.

It came that close to the gas meter.

Photo Credit: Dominick Scalcione for DAILY VOICE
Closeup of the tire tracks show part of the out-of-control car's path.

Closeup of the tire tracks show part of the out-of-control car's path.

Photo Credit: Dominick Scalcione for DAILY VOICE

The 80-something driver was hospitalized with a severe leg injury after the chain-reaction crash on East 54th Street.

After her sedan mounted a resident's lawn, the driver put it into reverse and hit the accelerator instead of the brake, knocking down a hedge and the fence before hitting the minivan, neighbor Dominick Scalcione told Daily Voice.

"She then went forward, jamming the accelerator again instead of the brake," Scalcione said.

"One wheel of the car rolled up on a giant oak, sending the car airborne," he said, "after which it came clear across a two-lane roadway, over the curb, across three more properties and into my house, knocking part of the foundation away into the basement -- and missing the gas meter by two feet."

Both airbags deployed, Scalcione said, adding that there were no passengers in the car.

Elmwood Park police and firefighters and the borough Volunteer Ambulance Squad responded.

"The Elmwood Park mayor and council have been working diligently to improve safety along East 54th Street," Scalcione noted.

"In September they reduced the speed limit from 35 to 25 mphalong the entire length of E54th from Broadway to Molnar and in the near future the borough will be installing all new pedestrian crosswalk signs," he said. "Re-stripping all roads is also in the works."

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