Vehicle Hits Pedestrian Near South Orange Middle School

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — A vehicle struck and injured a pedestrian in front of South Orange Middle School on Monday afternoon, authorities said.

Emergency responders transported the victim – a 47-year-old woman – to a nearby hospital after a vehicle struck her on N. Ridgewood Road, South Orange Village President Sheena Collum stated.

Authorities temporarily closed the area of N. Ridgewood Road between South Orange Avenue and Beech Spring Road (inclusive of the intersection of Tillou Road) after the crash, Collum said.

An investigation is underway, Collum stated Monday.

The South Orange Fire Department used inflated airbags to extricate the woman, who was pinned underneath the car during the incident, TAP Into SOMA reported. No children were directly involved in the incident, Principal Lynn Irby wrote in an email to the community.

The incident inspired a wave of sympathetic comments on social media from local residents, some of whom recalled their own brushes with traffic hazards.

• “Terrifying that this happened right near the school...traffic there in the late afternoon is scary. I hope she's ok!”
• “I'm appreciative of increased enforcement efforts. I've been hit twice in SO crosswalks, luckily not injured. It's like the daily gauntlet. I hope the victim is ok.”
• “So sad. Yesterday while attempting to cross South Orange ave ( at the traffic light of South Orange ave and Vose) I saw 2 cars run through the light going down South Orange ave towards the train station. I was trying to cross South Orange ave. I was in shock. Prayers to this person.”
• “I really hope she’s ok. I live on that street and it’s really insane and scary sometimes.”
• “I hope the victim makes a full recovery. I'm so shaken up that this happened so close to our middle school, it could have been a child.”

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