West Orange Resident Injured in Caldwell Crash

WEST CALDWELL — An 81-year-old West Orange man was hospitalized with four broken ribs following a two-car, head-on collision Wednesday evening that caused one vehicle to roll over on Mountain Avenue near the corner of Forest Avenue, West Caldwell Police Chief Michael Bramhall said.

According to Bramhall, Louis Zivi, 81, of West Orange, was transported by the West Essex First Aid Squad to Morristown Memorial Hospital where he was expected to be released Thursday.

Zivi was driving his Toyota Avalon southbound on Mountain Avenue, while Joseph Gianetto, 50, of Lincoln Park, was heading northbound on the county roadway when the collision occurred at about 4:25 p.m., Bramhall said.

West Caldwell Police Officer Patrick Cooper is investigating the cause of the collision that could be the result of one of the drivers crossing the double-yellow center line, Bramhall said. The police chief said a summons could be given to one of the drivers.

The crash caused Gianetto's Jeep Grand Cherokee to roll over onto its side before coming to rest on the island at the end of Forest Avenue, while Zivi's Toyota sustained severe front-end damage.

Gianetto was treated by the West Essex First Aid Squad on the scene for minor injuries and was not transported to the hospital, Bramhall said.

The accident closed Mountain Avenue for nearly two hours in the area of the intersection, which is partially located in West Caldwell and North Caldwell, between Hickory Drive and Arbor Road in North Caldwell.

Caldwell police also responded and assisted with closing the portion of Mountain Avenue, Bramhall said.