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TRENTON, N.J. — A week after a 93-year-old driver plowed through the patio at Meg’s Grill in Lavallette, killing a 56-year-old woman and injuring seven other people, a state senator is moving to make outdoor dining safer. On Saturday, May 9, 2026, State Sen. Jim Holzapfel said he will introduce legislation requiring restaurants to install protective barriers whenever diners are seated beside active traffic.
The deadly crash drew renewed attention to a safety gap that has quietly existed at many Jersey Shore restaurants: a row of tables separated from moving vehicles by little more than a curb. Holzapfel, whose district includes Lavallette and other Ocean County shore communities, said the state needs a clear, enforceable standard for outdoor dining spaces that sit directly adjacent to roadways, parking lots, and drive aisles.
Police said the driver was attempting to park when she hit the accelerator instead of the brake. Her vehicle went out of control, crossed the area near the restaurant, and entered the outdoor dining section where guests were eating. The crash killed Ursula Keating, the wife of the Silverton Fire Department chief. Seven other people were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
Authorities have not said whether any charges are being considered, and the driver’s name has not been released. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Lavallette police have continued to investigate the collision. In the days since the tragedy, local officials and residents have focused less on the driver and more on why there was no physical barrier between the patio and the path of an errant vehicle.
Holzapfel said the bill would require restaurants that offer outdoor dining next to an active roadway to install “protective bollards or other approved barriers” between customers and traffic. The rule would apply to seasonal sidewalk cafes, streateries, parking-lot patios, and permanent decks that abut areas where vehicles travel.
The proposal is in its early stages. The senator’s office said draft language is being prepared, and the measure is expected to be formally introduced after the state budget process is complete. Aides said Holzapfel wants to move quickly so the standards could be in place before next summer’s peak tourism season.
“If a restaurant wants to offer dining directly next to an active roadway, there should be a basic safety requirement for protective bollards or other approved barriers between diners and traffic,” Holzapfel said in a statement.
The idea is not unique to New Jersey. Some cities and states have adopted similar requirements for sidewalk cafés and roadway dining areas in recent years. But New Jersey currently lacks a uniform statewide rule, and municipalities have taken widely different approaches — some require heavy planters, some rely on temporary barricades, and some require nothing at all.
One of the central questions shaping the legislation is what kinds of barriers should be allowed. Not every decorative obstacle is capable of stopping a moving vehicle. Lightweight plastic fencing, wooden planters, and metal railing might be useful at guiding pedestrians, but they are not engineered to survive the impact of a sedan or SUV.
Traffic safety experts say crash-rated bollards are generally the most reliable option. These are typically steel posts filled with concrete or reinforced composite material, installed with deep footings so they can absorb the force of a vehicle without snapping or tipping over. Spacing matters too: bollards need to be close enough that a car cannot fit between them, but far enough apart to allow walkers, strollers, and wheelchairs to pass comfortably.
Holzapfel’s proposal would likely direct the state to publish an approved list of barrier designs rather than forcing restaurateurs to hire a structural engineer for every project. That approach would give small businesses a predictable set of options while still maintaining a real safety standard.
Any new building requirement creates cost questions, and restaurants operate on tight margins. Installing crash-rated bollards can cost several hundred dollars per post once labor, concrete, and site preparation are factored in. A patio with a 30-foot edge might need five or more posts, meaning the total investment could reach thousands of dollars.
Industry groups have not yet taken a formal position on the proposal. But the timing matters. Many shore restaurants depend heavily on spring and summer revenue, and an expensive retrofitting order could be a strain, especially for smaller family-owned operations.
Holzapfel said he is aware of those concerns. He described the proposal as a basic safety measure rather than an elaborate design mandate. Restaurants that have outdoor tables far from vehicle traffic, or separated by permanent walls, would likely be exempt under the bill.
Outdoor dining expanded rapidly after the pandemic, when many towns allowed restaurants to use parking spaces, sidewalks, and even portions of streets for tables. Those spaces were often cheap and quick to build, and they quickly became part of the Shore’s summer character. But safety regulations were slower to follow.
In many cases, local zoning and building codes treat outdoor patios as accessory spaces to the main building. That means they are often reviewed for fire safety, handrails, or maximum occupancy, but not for the risk of a vehicle leaving the roadway and striking a customer.
The crash at Meg’s Grill exposed that gap in tragic fashion. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, and the restaurant’s outdoor seating area was damaged in the incident. The borough later closed off parts of the site while investigators worked, and the restaurant remained closed as of this report.
The bill will need to work its way through the legislative process in Trenton, where Democratic leaders control both chambers and the governor’s office. Holzapfel is in the minority party, so the proposal will require bipartisan cooperation to advance. He said he plans to seek hearings where local officials, restaurant owners, and safety advocates can provide input before the final version is drafted.
The legislation could also become part of a broader conversation about pedestrians and vehicle safety in New Jersey. In recent years, the state has examined whether large trucks and SUVs pose an increased risk in urban and suburban areas. Adding crash protections to outdoor dining spaces would fit into that same theme, though the focus here is less on vehicle design and more on the environment where dining takes place.
For residents of Lavallette and other shore communities, the push for protected dining spaces is deeply personal. Keating’s death was not the result of high speed or reckless driving, at least according to police accounts. It was a momentary mistake by an older driver — the kind of mistake that happens in parking lots every day but normally ends with a dented bumper rather than a body.
Holzapfel said that is exactly why the state should not rely on good fortune.
“A simple meal out doesn’t suddenly turn to tragedy unless you haven’t planned for the worst,” he said.
The senator said he expects the final bill to include a compliance timeline that gives restaurants enough time to purchase and install approved barriers. He also wants the rules to be consistent from town to town, so a restaurant owner in Lavallette is not held to a different standard than one in Seaside Heights or Point Pleasant Beach.
As of May 9, 2026, the bill has not yet been introduced, but Holzapfel’s office confirmed that drafting is underway. Advocates for crash prevention say the measure deserves support, especially in beach towns where outdoor tables are packed throughout the summer and the line between a pleasant meal and a dangerous accident is often just a few feet.
