Pedestrian struck by car on South Street in Morristown; motorist charged

Morristown police at scene of pedestrian accident, with Jeep that witnesses say struck a woman in a crosswalk. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Morristown police at scene of pedestrian accident, with Jeep that witnesses say struck a woman in a crosswalk. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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This version contains updated information from Morristown police.

A woman in a Morristown crosswalk was struck by a vehicle and thrown onto the pavement on South Street, according to witnesses of the accident on Sunday evening.

The victim, Adalzenir Sardo, 42, of Morristown, was crossing South Street at the intersection of Hamilton Road at 5:50 pm.

Crosswalk sign appears askew after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at Hamilton and South in Morristown. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Crosswalk sign appears askew after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at Hamilton and South in Morristown. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

“I paused for her to cross, and this Jeep came by at 40 mph and slammed her,” striking the victim’s hip and propelling her 15 or 20 feet, said a motorist at the scene, a Morristown resident who declined to give her name.

The driver of the 2010 Jeep, 68-year-old Stewart Minkoff of Morristown, “confirmed that he had not seen Ms. Sardo until it was too late to stop and was unable to avoid the collision” in the crosswalk, said Police Lt. Stuart Greer.

The motorist who witnessed the crash said the victim was dazed but conscious. She told the motorist she was Brazilian, and was crossing to get a passport photo at Walgreen’s.

Sardo was taken to Morristown Medical Center with a possible dislocated knee and minor head injuries, Greer said.

Minkoff was issued a summons for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk, the lieutenant said.

Several residents from the nearby Blair House and Hamilton apartments heard the crash and rushed to the scene.

“I heard a long horn. Then I heard a sound like plastic crunching,” said Ohemaah Ntiamoah. “I saw a body laying on the ground,” in the street in front of Rite Aid.

Ntiamoah said she then heard another motorist, who had been driving in the opposite direction, yell “get off your phone!” at the the Jeep’s driver.

The victim’s hands appeared bloodied, and she sustained an abrasion on her head, Ntiamoah said.

John Fernandes heard the “harsh screech of a car” and then a “hit” that he thought was two vehicles colliding.

The Jeep was traveling up South Street in the direction of the Green.  A “Stop for Pedestrians” sign near the crosswalk appeared to have been brushed by the Jeep.

Residents said traffic seldom slows there long enough for a safe crossing.

“They don’t stop for you,” said Paula Segura, who moved here in January.

“It’s just a horrible intersection,” said Fernandes, who said he often walks a long block to the stoplight at South and James streets to cross the street when he needs to go to the drug store or Kings supermarket– which is right across South Street from his apartment. 

He said he fears for the safety of senior citizens from the apartments who attempt to cross at Hamilton and South.

 

 

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6 COMMENTS

  1. How about drivers pay attention, look up, follow speeds limit, and allow pedestrians to cross the street using the crosswalk.

  2. @john s, Drivers are under no obligation to stop for someone that is WAITING to cross. Standing on the sidewalk is not the “crosswalk”. Lots of pedestrians seem to think they have the right of way when they are standing there. Pedestrians are supposed to cross only when it is safe and drivers are supposed to stop for them when that happens.

  3. We must all care about these types of crashes but we must also ask, would the Google car have stopped in time? What if there was a way this driver could have started the braking ¾ of a second sooner and stopped 30 – 40 feet shorter, perhaps in an even shorter distance than the Google car. There is. Sad that those in charge of driver legislation and training refuse to teach student drivers the safer (But girly!) left foot braking method and ban driving instructors from teaching the very complicated and difficult to mentally maintain especially for older drivers (over 40!), inefficient (poor stopping distance) and dangerous (right foot pedal errors) right foot braking method on automatic transmission cars. See DOT HS 811 597, 812 058and 812 431(spaces required). NHTSA insists on calling it “pedal misapplication” and always blames the driver rather than their beloved right foot braking method. Score to date 150,000 dead, millions injured, and billions in costs. The price men both in and out of government are apparently willing to pay to maintain their systemic belief in the “Killer” right foot braking method on automatic cars even though they have zero scientific justification. As one transportation “expert” said “That’s the way it’s always been taught”! This is not about who has the safer braking method but rather why they refuse to scientifically compare the two methods! Was it driver error or the way we taught them to brake?

  4. As someone who routinely runs through downtown, I can tell you that 99% of drivers do no stop for someone who is waiting to cross at a crosswalk. This is blatantly against the law, but drivers seems to think that the “Stop for Pedestrians” signs are just a suggestion.

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