Two men crossing Route 440 in Bayonne became the 15th and 16th pedestrian fatalities to occur in New Jersey in 2015. The fatal pedestrian accident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on Nov. 2 when the young men, both in their early 20s, set out to cross the roadway at Lefante Way. Going from east to west, they managed to clear the northbound lanes but were then hit by oncoming traffic when they reached the southbound lanes.
The men were walking beside each other when the driver of a red Toyota Camry, a Bayonne resident whose age was not made available, struck both of them. No other individuals were walking on the roadway. The bodies of both men came to rest near the spot where they were hit.
After striking the victims, the car then careened into the center divider, finally coming to rest nearby. The driver’s speed is not yet known. Local law enforcement is handling the investigation, and it may take weeks for the Bayonne Police Department to receive the results of blood alcohol level tests being performed on the driver’s blood sample.
When fatal pedestrian accidents occur, law enforcement and investigators begin a process of discovering and recovering all available evidence to help pinpoint the cause. They attempt to locate and get statements from any eyewitnesses and to obtain video footage from any surveillance cameras that may have captured details of the accident. In cases where the victim of a pedestrian accident or the family members of a deceased victim seek counsel from a legal representative, such video footage may be beneficial in helping the victim or loved ones receive due compensation from those responsible for the accident.
Source: NJ.com, “Police identify pedestrians killed while crossing Route 440 in Bayonne”, Jonathan Lin, Nov. 3, 2015
