While Morristown officials were announcing a pedestrian safety program on Tuesday, Morris County authorities were investigating a crash involving a Morristown police vehicle that injured a pedestrian.
Capt. Richard Rose of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that a pedestrian was struck by a police vehicle early on Monday morning.
“That person remains in the hospital at the present time,” Rose said.
The identities of that person and of the police officer who was driving have not been disclosed. Rose said the incident remains under investigation.
The crash occurred in the area of Speedwell Avenue and Spring Street, according to The Daily Record.
Morristown Police Lt. Stuart Greer referred questions to the Prosecutor’s Office.
On Tuesday morning, local officials rolled out Street Smart Morristown, a program to combine public education and stepped-up police enforcement to reduce pedestrian injuries in town. Some 52 people were struck–one fatally– in Morristown streets between 2013 and 2015.
That section of Morristown contains one of the most dangerous crosswalks I have ever seen. The crosswalk is located at Speedwell Avenue and Flagler Street. The crosswalk has no pedestrian signal, no stoplight, and crosses four lanes of traffic. Pedestrians crossing from the right side of the road while driving north are almost completely shielded by a lamppost. Although a fully signed crosswalk exists with a traffic signal about 50 feet away, pedestrians in that area prefer the unsigned crosswalk with no signal. I cannot believe how the Town permits this dangerous condition to continue to exist. It is unclear how any engineering study would have permitted it to be installed in the first place. It is a danger to pedestrians and drivers alike. It is amazing that more pedestrian incidents and fender-benders are not taking place at this location there more often, particularly in the evening and morning commutes when it is virtually impossible to tell whether a pedestrian is crossing when traveling in the far lanes of Speedwell Avenue. If the town were serious about pedestrian safety, it would permanently close that crosswalk and direct pedestrians to the safer crossing a mere 50 feet away.
Speedwell Avenue is an area where the residents need to be educated on safety. There have been numerous occasions when I have observed persons walking off the curb and into oncoming traffic.
The other issues are cell phones, texting and ear phones – distracted walkers keep moving into the street without checking for oncoming traffic.
I remember, as a child, being taught- stop, look and listen – before you cross the street – use your eyes – use your ears – before you use your feet.