An out of control car went careening into the Wildwood Water Works station early Saturday morning causing damage to the 1014-year-old building.
A 2010 red Mercury Milan busted through the pumping station's front door about 6 a.m., stopping with its front wheels dangling over a railing and drop off area that houses a back up water pump.
Stanley Lovett, 25, was driving the car southbound on Route 47 when he lost control. He said at first that he fell asleep, then he told police that a deer ran in front of his car.
“The driver lost control of his vehicle coming out of the water works bend and struck the guardrail on the north side of the road,” said Middle Township police Cpl. Gino Castellano. “The vehicle then traveled back across the north and south bound lanes going through a fence and struck the front of the Wildwood Water Works building.”
The building is the sole pumping station for the utility and serves customers in Middle and Lower Townships as well as Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, West Wildwood and North Wildwood, according to a Wildwood Water Works statement.
“The station remains open and is doing its job,” said water utility General Manager Ron Grookett.
An evaluation of the pumping station’s pump motor will take place Monday.
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Lovett was not hurt but was issued a summons for careless driving.
