WESTWOOD, N.J.—Two pedestrians walked themselves into traffic—off the crosswalk—and were struck by cars, but lived to tell the tale.
Both pedestrians were cited in their respective mishaps.
Multiple 9-1-1 calls alerted police to the first collision, Dec. 19. A black-clad pedestrian, 34, from Westwood, wound up lying on Kinderkamack Road west of Irvington, bleeding from the head, after he sauntered in at an angle an unfortunate Ford Fusion driver from River Edge did not notice in time.
The driver slammed on her brakes then heard the bang no driver wants to hear.
After ambulances arrived, the pedestrian was taken to nearby Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center with an abrasion on the back of his head and complaining of leg pain.
The Fusion sustained minor damage but was drivable.
Following the investigation, the pedestrian was cited for Sections 39:4-33: use of designated crosswalk, and 39:4-67: obstructing passage of other vehicles or street cars prohibited; clearance of intersections.
The next evening, Dec. 20, a different pedestrian, a 31-year-old New Yorker wearing all-black clothing, listening to music on headphones, and crossing the street away from a crosswalk, was bonked by a resident’s Toyota Camry.
Fortunately he was not injured, or at least he didn’t report an injury.
According to the police report, officers responding to a phone call arrived at Old Hook and Sand Road to find the pedestrian on his feet.
He was evaluated by EMTs but declined medical attention.
Police cited him over Section 39:4-33: use of designated crosswalk.
Westwood and Park Ridge are leaders among Pascack Valley communities in promoting pedestrian–driver safety awareness, partnering with the New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) on local Street Smart New Jersey campaigns.
Emerson, too, is working on boosting pedestrian–driver safety efforts, leveraging Westwood groundwork.
There were 828 pedestrians killed and more than 22,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes in New Jersey 2013–2017, the NJTPA said in a 2018 news release.
Pedestrian deaths accounted for more than 28% of crash-related fatalities during that time.