NJ Family Sues Planet Fitness, Geico After Deadly Car Crash Into Gym

ELIZABETH, NJ — The family of the man who died after a car crashed into a Planet Fitness facility in August 2025 is suing the gym, the franchisee, and property owners in an alleged case of wrongful death.

Jose Antonio Chez, 72 of Elizabeth, died on Aug. 26 after a car ran through the glass front of the facility at 647 Newark Ave. while he was working out, according to a lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of Union County on Dec. 11.

His estate is now claiming that the defendants ignored the need to install proper barricades or other protective safety measures surrounding the building. The lawsuit claims the parties "should have known about the foreseeability of vehicles crashing into storefronts and the thousands of such incidents that occur nationwide each year, causing death and serious injury."

At around 12:30 p.m., 69-year-old Elisa Cruz hit the building after swerving to avoid another car in the lot, the lawsuit said. She is not being charged in the case, the City of Elizabeth confirmed.

The other driver has not been identified.

The family is also suing Geico Insurance after the company allegedly denied a claim they made for negligence committed by that still unidentified driver.

Chez's family says Geico violated the Fair Conduct Act, which allows policyholders to sue insurance companies in cases of alleged unreasonable denials of uninsured motorist claims after it issued a policy to his estate.

The family is seeking damages for Geico acting in "bad faith" that include damages caused by violating the Fair Conduct Act, the trial verdict, interest, attorney's fees, and filing costs.

Chez's estate is also looking to recover damages caused by Planet Fitness, its franchisee, and the property management company, including interest, attorney's fees, and filing costs.

Three others were also injured in the crash, including a 59-year-old man who was on a treadmill nearby. Read More