Two Cops Struck As Buick Plows Through Glass Storefront At Wallington 7-Eleven
WALLINGTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A car plowed through a 7-Eleven, and hit two police officers.
As CBS2's Christine Sloan reported, the Buick crashed into the front glass door of a 7-Eleven in Wallington and drove into two officers standing at the counter. The incident was caught on camera.
"I was just bracing myself with my left arm up, and then my left leg went up, and I was just waiting for impact, and then I next thing I know we're on our backs on the floor," Sgt. Thomas Kruk, Wallington Police Department said.
Sergeant Kruk flew over the hood of the car and landed on top of officer Peter Zagaja.
"It was, it was tough in that moment," Kruk said, " Just the whole scene, it was just very surprising."
Kruk said he was caught off guard as the events unfolded on Sunday morning.
"Shock, and what's going on? Is there a medical problem with this guy that he just entered the store, or is he trying to hurt us as cops?" Kruk said.
The driver was identified as Robert Devlin, 64. The Bergen County Sheriff's Department charged him with driving while impaired and assault by auto. A CBS2 news team knocked at an address listed to him, but no one answered the door.
"(He said) Something about his breaks that he mentioned," Kruk said.
Neither of the officers was seriously hurt, and them limped over to the car. Devlin's arrest was not caught on camera.
"The car struck the entry doors, the door acted as a ramp, scooping up the officer and putting him on the vehicle, the other officer took the blunt," Chief Carmello Imbruglia, Wallington Police Department explained.
Some on the scene believe it may have been divine intervention that saved the officer. Shortly before the accident they were directing traffic at a local church.
The sergeant said he believes his raincoat and bullet proof vest prevented glass from hitting him.
He also said he bought a Powerball ticket that day and won $8, but plans to go back to the store to buy another one.