>Date Published: 2020/02/12
A pedestrian in Garfield was killed Tuesday afternoon, February 11, after a NJ Transit train strike.
According to reports from the initial investigation, train number 64 left Port Jervis at around 1:35 p.m. and was headed to Hoboken, scheduled to arrive at 3:55 p.m. when it struck a male pedestrian at around 3:30 p.m. near the Plauderville Station.
Emergency responders say the victim was pronounced dead at the Plauderville Station. The 40 passengers and crew members on the Bergen County Line train suffered no injuries.
The incident caused an hour of service delay, and is still being investigated.
We would like to send our condolences to the family of the deceased. We hope they are able to find the strength to move forward from this incident.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents are one of the most fatal types of crashes that happen on the roadways of New Jersey. In a report compiled by the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit says that in 2017, there were a total of 179 pedestrian crashes which resulted in 35 injuries and 183 fatalities. 91 of these fatalities happened because the pedestrian was crossing at a prohibited area, and 40 fatal crashes happened while the pedestrian was crossing at a marked crosswalk.
New Jersey law states that a driver of a vehicle must stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk, but shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals. Pedestrians must also obey pedestrian signals and use crosswalks at signalized intersections. Drivers and pedestrians who fail to follow these laws may face a hefty fine.
We urge drivers and pedestrians alike to observe and follow laws so that the roadways can be safer for everyone.
Written by: Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers