Beachgoer on bench killed, several hurt after out-of-control car plunges into Delaware Bay

A car that careened out of control fatally struck a woman sitting on a bench on a beach in North Cape May before plunging into the Delaware Bay, officials said.

The incident occurred about 8 p.m. Sunday when the car went off the road on Lincoln Boulevard near Beach Drive in Lower Township, crashed through a guardrail and struck several people who had gathered to watch the sun set, according to a report in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

News video from the scene showed the white car sitting in the water, not far from the shore as a medical helicopter landed near the scene and emergency vehicles waited nearby. An official told NJ Advance Media that several people were injured and one person killed.

Lower Township Mayor Frank Sippel told the Press of Atlantic City on Monday that a woman sitting on a bench overlooking the water had been struck by the car and later died.

There were three people inside the car when it went off the road, 6abc reported.

Police in Lower Township did not immediately respond Tuesday to calls for further details. The Cape May County County Prosecutor’s Office is handling the investigation.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.