Teen Skateboarder Suffers Head Trauma on 'Suicide Hill,' Flown to Hospital

An 18-year-old suffered traumatic head injuries when he crashed off a skateboard on Unger Avenue Wednesday around 3 p.m., according to police.

The man, who moved to Hopatcong in October, was flown to Morristown Memorial Hospital. The hospital could not be reached for comment at this time, and authorities have not released the man's identity.

Police Chief John Swanson said the man wasn't wearing a helmet. State law says non-motorized vehicle riders 17 years old and under must wear helmets; this man would not have been in violation of that rule.

A group of boys dared the 18-year-old, an inexperienced skateboarder, to ride down a steep road, according to residents interviewed by Hopatcong Patch.

Residents said the Unger Avenue section is known as "Suicide Hill" for its drastic incline.

Resident Michelle Costanza made the 911 call and said police and ambulances responded within 10 minutes. Police said the man was driven to Veteran's Field, where he was picked up by a helicopter and transported to Morristown.

Costanza said she heard screams from her house and saw children surrounding the man, who was lying facedown on the roadside with his feet toward the street.

"There was a tremendous amount of blood coming out of him," Costanza said.

Constanza said it appeared the man went into convulsions as she called authorities.

"It was really terrible," she said.

Residents at the scene said they've been talking for years about asking the town to place a speed bump on the hill to discourage motorists and kids from traveling fast down the steep hill. Costanza said she approached a town official years ago about the subject.

"Basically what he told me was that there were so many streets like this in Hopatcong that they would have to put [speed bumps] everywhere," Constanza said.

Neighbor Tom Connolly, a retired Paterson police officer, said he knew an accident like this would happen.

"Something needs to be done," Connolly said from inside his driveway. "I don't care if they put [speed bumps] down the whole street."

Constanza, who has four children, agreed.

"The cars, you would not believe how fast they go," she said. "I told my husband one day I'm going to have to call 911 because one of these kids is going to break their neck."

Swanson urged all residents riding non-motorized vehicles to wear helmets, regardless of their ages.

"We want to emphasize the importance of wearing a helmet anytime you're on wheeled [vehicle]," Swanson said.