Two pedestrians were thrown into the air after a Kia Soul struck them while they crossed Main Street in a marked crosswalk near Ryerson Avenue in Bloomingdale around 7:39 p.m. on Sunday, landing in the roadway a distance apart from each other with serious bodily injuries. The driver, a 64-year-old Bloomingdale woman, stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators as first responders worked to stabilize both victims.
According to DailyVoice.com, officer Sami Zeidan confirmed the pedestrians were struck by the Kia Soul as they crossed within the crosswalk. Police had expected the severity of the injuries to require an airlift, but weather conditions kept helicopters grounded, the outlet reported.
Ground Crews Rush Victims to Trauma Center
With medevac transport off the table, Atlantic Advanced Life Support and the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad instead carried both victims by ground to St. Joseph's Medical Center Trauma Center in Paterson, per the same account. Both remained in serious condition as they were transported, though further details about their identities or current status have not been released.
The 64-year-old driver has not been named, and it remains unclear whether she has been cited or whether investigators have reached any conclusion about fault. The crash's exact cause, including the vehicle's speed and the traffic-signal status at the time, has not been disclosed.
Neighbors Step In With Blankets and Umbrellas
As emergency crews worked the scene, bystanders stepped in to help, handing over blankets and umbrellas and offering other assistance to the injured pair, the report noted. The Bloomingdale Police Department said the response from residents reflected compassion and community spirit.
The Bloomingdale Police Department's traffic unit investigation team is now handling the crash investigation, though no further findings have been made public. New Jersey law places clear obligations on drivers in these situations: the New Jersey Department of Transportation states that drivers must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians crossing within an adjacent crosswalk. Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk falls under N.J.S.A. 39:4-36, which the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission lists as carrying two points on a driver's license.
