A 30-year-old Bardonia, New York, man has died after a two-vehicle crash in the Hewitt section of West Milford on Saturday evening, a collision that ended with an emergency airlift and a fatal trip to the hospital. First responders rushed the severely injured driver to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center, where he later died. The wreck happened around 5:55 p.m. at the intersection of Warwick Turnpike and Lake Shore Drive.
Crash details
Police say the crash involved a Dodge Charger and a Nissan Pathfinder. Local officers and Passaic County prosecutors converged on the scene as firefighters and EMS crews worked to free and stabilize the people inside the vehicles. Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and West Milford Police Chief Shannon Sommerville released an initial account of the emergency response and confirmed that the Charger’s driver was flown to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center while investigators worked to figure out how the collision unfolded, according to RLS Media.
Victims and response
The driver of the Dodge Charger, a 30-year-old man from Bardonia, died on June 1 after receiving treatment at the Paterson trauma center. The Nissan’s driver, a 28-year-old Hewitt resident, was evaluated and later released, as reported by Daily Voice. West Milford emergency services, including the fire department and Passaic County EMS, handled patient care at the scene and secured the crash site before turning it over to investigators.
Investigation and local context
The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office and West Milford Police say the case remains very much active, with more information expected as they sort through evidence and witness statements, according to RLS Media. The township has already seen other serious crashes this spring. An earlier wreck on Route 23 in May also required an airlift, a reminder of how quickly routine drives on local roads can turn critical and how heavily outcomes can depend on response logistics, per reporting by NorthJersey/AOL.
How to help
Investigators are asking anyone who saw Saturday’s crash, or who may have relevant dash-cam or doorbell footage, to come forward. Tips can be shared with the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office at its tip line, 1-877-370-PCPO, or by emailing [email protected], according to local reporting. West Milford Police can be reached at the township's non-emergency number, 973-728-2802, as listed on the township website.
