Driver runs car into fitness center

By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
   JAMESBURG — One employee and two patrons of the Curves fitness center had a close call last week when a car barreled through the business’s Forsgate Drive storefront.
   Edith Minkoff, 79, of Monroe, told police she was not sure what had happened after her 2007 Lexus ES 350 ended up inside the fitness Center at about 1 p.m. Nov. 30.
   Luckily, the employee and two members were at the rear of the store during the accident and no injuries were reported, said Carol Graham, Curves co-owner.
   Curves employee, Diane Klecha said she missed injury from the impact by mere seconds.
   ”I just happened to walk away at that moment,” she said. “Then there was this big dust cloud and we hurried up and called 911.”
   Two customers who had just finished their workout sessions were also in the building, packing up their belongings to leave.
   ”It was closing time,” Ms. Klecha said. “A half and hour earlier or 20 minutes earlier and it could have been a big problem.”
   The car destroyed a double-pane glass window, a door, a small brick wall, some of the carpeting, a couple recovery stations and an ab-and-back machine, said Ms. Graham.
   ”We close at 1 p.m. which is really fortunate,” Ms. Graham said. “One machine ended up under the car.”
   Ms. Graham said she estimates that the damage to the inside of her business, excluding the window and the door, is in the neighborhood of $7,000.
   Curves had to board up its storefront for three business days but finally reopened on Wednesday, Ms. Graham said.
   ”It will still need to be painted but then we’ll be good to go,” she said.
   Although Ms. Minkoff was visibly shaken after the accident, police said, she and her husband refused any medical treatment at the scene.
   Police said they believe Ms. Minkoff accidentally hit the gas instead of the break but said they are still investigating the incident. Patrol Officer Patrick Smith, who was first on the scene, did not indicate in his report that Ms. Minkoff would be charged or ticketed for the incident.