Woman Hit by Police Car in Cedar Grove

A Cedar Grove police officer struck a woman pedestrian Wednesday evening with his patrol car on Pompton Avenue near the Temple Sholom of West Essex.

Police said, the woman, a 29-year-old resident of Paterson, who was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson, where she was treated and released, was not in a crosswalk and failed to yield to the patrol car.

Cedar Grove Police Capt. Richard Vanderstreet said the accident happened shortly after 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Pompton Avenue and Bortic Road near Temple Sholom.

 The fact that the woman was wearing dark clothing and was not crossing in a crosswalk at a dimly-lit intersection, contributed to the accident, he said."The lighting situation was definitely a contributing factor," Vanderstreet said.

Vanderstreet said the officer, Patrolman Michael Tower, a 22-year veteran of the department, was stopped at a stop sign on Bortic Road waiting to make a left onto Pompton Avenue when he saw the woman on the opposite side of Route 23/Pompton Avenue standing near the bus stop.

Vanderstreet said Tower believed the woman was waiting for a bus, and made his turn.

"In a flash he observed the pedestrian that had been standing at the bus stop in the middle of the highway," he said. "[Tower] hit the brakes, and his vehicle bumped the pedestrian. She fell to the pavement."

Vanderstreet said Tower immediately exited his patrol car, provided first aid to the woman, and made a request for an ambulance.

The woman complained of pain in her legs and head at the scene, and was taken to the hospital where she was treated and released.

"Fortunately it appears her injuries were relatively minor in nature," Vanderstreet said.

Based on the results of the investigation, which department protocol requires following an incident where a pedestrian is struck by a police vehicle, Vanderstreet said Tower was not to blame.

"My officer's vehicle had the right of way," Vanderstreet said. "It was incumbent upon the pedestrian at that particular location to yield the right of way.""In this particular case I believe the officer acted properly and is not at fault."