A driver plowed through a farmers market last weekend in Hawthorne, New Jersey, killing one woman and injuring two. The vehicle, a red pickup truck, crashed through the barricades at the Jefferson Place and Grand Avenue farmers market, struck two people and then dragged a women a half mile. She was declared dead at the scene
“Unthinkable” was what the Hawthorne mayor said of the accident, baffled that a driver could hit multiple pedestrians and then not notice that they were dragging someone with their vehicle.
Another witness, a woman working at a booth at the market, said the truck “blew” past her and she attempted to stop the driver by chasing after him.
The 48-year-old driver was arrested and is being held on $200,000 bail. Police indicated there were no “obvious” sign of alcohol or drug use at the time of the auto-pedestrian accident. But given that he was arrested, it is likely that a blood test will be performed to determine if the was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.
However, some witnesses indicated that his “physical challenges” might have caused problems driving his vehicle. One man told a reporter that he had been concerned about his size and difficulty walking, but it was unclear exactly what that meant.
He was charged with vehicular homicide and could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison if convicted. In addition to the criminal charges, the family of the deceased woman could bring a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages from the man and his insurance company for her death.
Source: CBS New York, “Driver Charged In Crash That Killed Woman At NJ Farmers Market,” CBS New York/AP, August 11, 2014
