Montclair Woman Struck By Van In Front of Bellevue Theatre Has Died

The woman struck by a van this week in the parking lot across from the Bellevue Theatre has died, said Montclair Lt. Kenneth Miscia Jr. on Friday.

The 60-year-old woman was hit shortly after 8 a.m. on Wednesday in an Upper Montclair area that has suffered its fair share of traffic accidents in recent years.

Although police did not release her identity, a Patch reader called her a "longtime Montclair resident and a fantastic woman. She was transitioning into semi-retirement, with her golden years just around the bend. This is so tragic and she will be deeply, deeply missed."

Miscia said the family has asked that the victim's name not be released. He also would not say whether any charges will be filed against the unidentified 29-year-old Bloomfield man driving the van. The man called police to report the incident right after it happened.

A visibly shaken witness said on Wednesday that the woman, after she was struck, was able to make some sounds but that she was bleeding from the mouth and head and had to be taken away in an ambulance.

At the time, the woman was able to move her arms and legs but police on the scene said she was in serious condition and so was immediately transported to the St. Joseph's Trauma Center in Paterson.

The witness said the van struck the woman as it was exiting the parking lot and surmised that the woman may have been heading towards the DeCamp bus stop near Valley Road and Bellevue Avenue.

For a brief period, police blocked off Bellevue Avenue in front of the theatre with yellow tape.

Upper Montclair has been the site of several other incidents involving pedestrians in recent years. One person was struck by an SUV last year near Lorraine Avenue and Valley Road while another was hit in the crosswalk of Valley Road and Bellevue Avenue.

Lt. Kenneth Miscia from the Montclair Police Department issued the following statement just after the incident:

"On 3/30/11 at approximately 8:00 AM, Police were dispatched to the southern entrance to the Bellevue Parking Plaza on a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Preliminary investigation showed that a 29 year old male from Bloomfield struck a 60 year old female pedestrian from Montclair. The pedestrian was transported to the trauma center at St. Joseph’s Hospital with serious head injuries. The accident was called in by the driver of the van that struck her and at this time there are no witnesses.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Lt. Kenneth Miscia of the Uniform and Traffic Bureau at 973-509-4740."