Driver Who Hit 14-Year-Old, Adult On Sidewalk Charged In Union County

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ — The driver who hit an adult and a 14-year-old while they were on the sidewalk on March 10 has been charged, Berkeley Heights Police announced Wednesday.

Following a thorough investigation into the serious motor vehicle accident on March 10 on Park Avenue near Winsor Way, police said they found that the primary cause of the accident was driver inattention.

The driver, a 49-year-old township resident with a child inside the vehicle, was going east on Park Avenue when the crash occurred.

The driver had drawn his attention away from the road, resulting in a crash with two pedestrians walking on the sidewalk of Park Avenue near Windsor Way, which is a wide section of the roadway, said Berkeley Heights Police.

• Read More: 14-Year-Old, Adult Walking On Sidewalk Hit By Car In Berkeley Heights

"The driver does not recall the moments just prior to the accident, leading to the conclusion of driver inattention as the main contributing factor," said police.

Toxicology tests by the New Jersey State Police showed that the driver was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.

Both the driver and the child inside the vehicle sustained no injuries.

However, the driver has been charged with reckless driving, careless driving, failure to maintain lane, unsafe vehicle, failure to inspect vehicle.

Additionally, the driver has been subjected to retesting by the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission to ensure future road safety.

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