According to a spokesperson with the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, a 27-year-old man was struck and critically injured by a New Jersey Transit bus on April 17. The incident occurred around 5:50 a.m. at the intersection of Bergenline Avenue and 90th Street in North Bergen.
Reportedly, the 27-year-old man, who is from Flushing, New York, was crossing the street in the marked crosswalk. The bus was leased to the Academy Bus company. The bus driver was driving south when he reportedly made a left turn, failing to see the man. Following the collision, the man was pinned under the bus after it came to a stop.
Emergency medical personnel transported the man to Hackensack University Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. He was listed in critical condition, and the hospital indicates that he is suffering from bleeding on the brain and other injuries. The sheriff’s office is still in the process of conducting its investigation. They have not yet indicated whether they will be filing criminal charges against the bus driver involved in the accident.
Pedestrian accidents can be especially serious, as pedestrians have nothing to protect them from the impact. When a pedestrian suffers serious injury, they may be left facing permanent disabilities along with significant expenses and financial losses. When the party that causes such an accident is a commercial driver, both the driver and their company may be held to be civilly liable for the injured pedestrian’s losses through a personal injury lawsuit that is filed in civil court.
Source: Hudson County View, “UPDATED: Officials: Pedestrian in critical condition after being hit by bus in North Bergen,” John Heinis, April 17, 2015.
