A vehicle backed into the Jersey Mike's sub shop on Route 6 in Somerset around 1:45 p.m. Saturday, punching through the storefront and sending one person to the hospital for evaluation. Somerset police, fire and EMS crews responded to the scene at the busy commercial strip, where the impact left the building damaged enough that officials called for a structural review before anyone could go back inside.
According to Fall River Reporter, the cause of the crash remains under investigation, and one person was taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital for evaluation. Somerset Fire Chief William Tedford reported that there were no injuries, though the same outlet noted a person was transported for evaluation following the impact. Crews requested a building inspector to check the structure before the shop could reopen, and it remains temporarily closed as a result.
The sub shop sits inside Fairfield Commons, a 14.3-acre commercial development on Grand Army Highway built by South Coast Hospitality that also includes a hotel, a Starbucks, Pancheros Mexican Grill, Chick-fil-A, and a 120-unit housing development, according to the Fall River Reporter. Route 6 functions as Somerset's main commercial artery, carrying heavy traffic past multiple driveways that feed into strip plazas like this one, the outlet's reporting notes.
A Franchise Built for the Neighborhood
Franchise owner Bob Quinlan opened the 1,400-square-foot Somerset Jersey Mike's in early 2022 as his 10th location, employing between 15 and 20 workers, per a report shared by NBC10. The shop had been part of the Fairfield Commons retail lineup since the complex's early buildout years, adding another quick-service option to a stretch of Route 6 already dense with restaurants and retail.
What Happens Before the Shop Can Reopen
Crews requested a building inspector to check the structure after the vehicle impact before anyone could go back inside. That review is what's keeping the Somerset Jersey Mike's closed for now, with no timeline yet available for when it might reopen.
Separately, the crash raises the question of whether a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report must be filed. The filing requirements and any administrative consequences are not addressed here.
A Familiar Pattern at Strip-Mall Storefronts
A vehicle-into-building crash can damage a commercial property and result in injuries. Saturday's crash shows that possibility, while its cause remains under investigation.
Bollards were not present along the storefront curb where Saturday's crash occurred, and whether the driver experienced any kind of medical episode or simply hit the wrong pedal remains an open question tied to the ongoing investigation. Route 6 carries traffic through Somerset's commercial core.
