Kevin Botta, 33, of Somers Point, who apparently was a passenger in the vehicle, died at the scene. The driver, Antonio Vargas, 21, also of Somers Point, sustained serious injuries and was flown to the trauma center at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, where he was in critical condition Thursday.
A pedestrian, Joseph Higbee, 26, of Northfield, thought to be standing outside the bar, was struck in the head by a fire hydrant dislodged from the sidewalk and sent flying 30 feet. Higbee also was flown to AtlantiCare Regional and was in critical condition.
No one inside the tavern was injured, but about 1,100 area homes and businesses were left without electricity. By Thursday afternoon, power had been restored to most affected customers, an Atlantic City Electric spokeswoman said.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the accident. No charges had been filed as of late Thursday.
An autopsy on Botta determined the cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries, including extensive head and facial fractures.
Witnesses in the bar said the impact on the circa-1908 structure sounded like an explosion.
"I thought a bomb went off," said Carrie Mitchell, 24, of Ocean City, who was sitting about 30 feet from where the vehicle came to rest. "My instinct was to drop to the floor and cover my head. When I looked up, I couldn't believe what I saw. . . . It was horrible."
Crews spent most of Thursday securing the front of the building with plywood, and the bar reopened late in the afternoon.
Little damage was caused to the rest of the structure, built from timbers of seven Longport homes destroyed in an early-20th-century nor'easter.
The building's storied past includes use as a dry-goods store, a hotel frequented by sportsmen, a riding academy, and a Prohibition speakeasy.
"This is one of the saddest of times we've ever had here," Greg Gregory said of the landmark spot his family has operated since 1946.
Contact staff writer Jacqueline L. Urgo at 609-652-8382 or jurgo@phillynews.com.
