Car Bursts into Flames After Crash

A Short Hills woman and a 9-year-old boy were injured when their car burst into flames after striking a pickup truck Wednesday morning on Passaic Avenue in Livingston.

The accident happened just before 8 a.m. in a wooded area near Care One at Livingston. A firefighter was slightly hurt and a 15-year-old girl was also injured in the crash, Livingston Det. Sgt. Anthony Dippold said.

According to the police report, Anthony Parris of Livingston had pulled over to the side of the road to check a problem with his pickup truck, a 1999 Dodge Ram. When he pulled back onto the road he was hit by Elizabeth McGraw of Short Hills, who was driving a 2011 Chevy Cruze. McGraw's vehicle burst into flames.

McGraw and Teddy McGraw, 9, and a passenger in the pickup, Jacqueline Parris, 15, were taken by ambulance to Saint Barnabas Medical Center. The injuries were not known, but the police report said they were not life threatening, Dippold said.

The Livingston Fire Department extinguished the fire in McGraw’s car. The McGraws were able to get out of the car before firefighters arrived, said Fire Chief Christopher Mullin.

Firefighter Ryan Collis broke his finger while putting out the fire, Mullin said. He was treated and released at Saint Barnabas.

Parris was issued a motor vehicle summons for failing to yield the right of way, Dippold said.

Both cars were towed from the scene.