Car strikes man in Morristown crosswalk; driver charged

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A local man was taken to Morristown Medical Center as a precaution after being struck by a vehicle while in a crosswalk on Monday evening, Morristown police said.

morristown police badgeThe 50-year-old pedestrian, whose identity was not immediately available, had been crossing Washington Street near Schuyler Place at 7:43 pm when he was struck by a 2006 Honda Ridgeline driven by Angel Vega, 44, of Morristown, Lt. Stuart Greer said.

The driver told police that he momentarily took his eyes off the road. When he saw the pedestrian, it was too late.

“Mr. Vega remained at the scene and rendered aid to the pedestrian until the police arrived,” said Lt. Greer.

The pedestrian sustained “minor injuries” to his lower back, the lieutenant said.

 After interviewing the driver and witnesses, Officer Carmen Caponegro charged Angel Vega with failing to stop for a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk, a motor vehicle violation.

It was the second pedestrian accident in that vicinity this month.

Almost to the hour two weeks ago, a Parsippany man was injured after being struck in a crosswalk at Washington Street and North Park Place by a hit-and-run driver.

MG Correspondent Berit Ollestad contributed to this report.

11 COMMENTS

  1. @Virgina Faulkner. How did you assume from my post that I don’t know the law requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks? Really?

  2. Yes, some drivers are inattentive and drive too fast. But it’s also true that some pedestrians step out into the crosswalks and immediately start crossing, instead of waiting a few moments to make sure the cars see them first and have time to stop.

    Furthermore, when there’s a red light at the intersection of Washington and 202, traffic is often backed up and it’s difficult to see the crosswalks near Titos/Grand Cafe. Yes, drivers should slow down, but pedestrians also need to protect themselves and proceed with caution.

    Don’t even get me started about Speedwell. I’m amazed there aren’t daily accidents there as cars travel too fast and pedestrians cross at will.

  3. Perhaps Ms. Knevals does not realize that NJ law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.

    Despite this, only a very small percentage of the drivers on Washington Street stop for pedestrians at the Court Street or Schuyler Place crosswalks. Speed is not the issue on either Speedwell Avenue or Washington Street and neither is pedestrian inattention. The problem is simply that NJ drivers usually do not stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, and they are going to continue not stopping until the police aggressively ticket non-compliance.

    Given this disregard of the law, pedestrians should be vigilant before attempting to cross the street.

  4. The situation at the top of Speedwell and Spring is a death trap with the sidewalk closed due to the building’s partial collapse. The landowner should be fined – for both the collapse of the building and the dangerous conditions that the pedestrians now have to face. People are walking on the shoulder of Spring St – which is covered in snow and ice. Horrible. This situation would never be permitted in other communities.

  5. I don’t see speed as a factor. Anyone who travels Washington St. And Speedwell Ave. knows where the crosswalks are and knows to watch out for pedestrians. However, it has been my experience that (especially) on Speedwell Avenue that the pedestrians DON’T LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE THEY ENTER THE CROSSWALKS. It would be helpful if there were signs at the curbs that remind the pedestrians to LOOK BOTH WAYS written in English and Spanish. Oh, and that Washington St. crosswalk’s line-of-sight can be blocked by large vehicles.

  6. I am sorry Mr. Vega had to experience this due to this dangerous crosswalk and the speed vehicles persist using around the center of town. I can only imagine what happens when the new construction is completed coming from Early St with 200 plus units, (I think it is 268 units) without realignment to Speedwell to handle traffic. Personally, I think the vehicles should be summons for their rate of speed.
    Helen Arnold

  7. I’m not surprised. In my opinion, this is one of the worst crosswalks in town. I used this crosswalk going to and from work everyday, and it’s like playing a real life version of Frogger. People go way too fast down this stretch of road and do not pay attention.

  8. In other places, towns like Morristown have a 20 mile speed limits as soon as you approach down town. I’ve been shocked when drivers would screech to a halt as soon as I set one foot off the curb in Maine or Mass.
    In Morristown, our crosswalks have become pedestrian target areas.

    Its not Morristown’s fault that our neighbors have blocked every attempt to expand their roads to provide for the traffic that they generated as they continued to develop. Why has their problem become our problem? Routes 287 and 24 were both originally planned to by pass the Town.

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