Speed Not A Factor In Woodbridge Teen Brothers Hit By Car: Cops

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Speed does not appear to be a factor in the incident where a pair of Colonia teen twins were hit by a car this past Friday while walking home from Colonia High School.

The twin brothers, Kevin and Tyler Brown, were hit by an SUV as they walked along New Dover Road at 2:54 p.m. this past Friday, Feb. 22. The SUV was driven by a fellow Woodbridge Twp. resident, a woman, but she has not yet been identified by police.

"There is no curb or sidewalk on that road and the boys were walking along the side of the road. Her car appears to have just veered to the right and she struck the two boys as they were walking, one in front of the other," said Sgt. James Chessere, of the Woodbridge police traffic investigation unit. "Speed does not appear to be a factor at this time."

One of the brothers apparently saw the SUV coming and was able to slightly get out of the way within seconds of being hit, the police sergeant said. The other brother, however, Tyler, was injured far more seriously. Both young men were taken to University Hospital in Newark immediately after the crash; Kevin has since been released. But Tyler remains in the ICU and is fighting to survive, extended relatives said on a GoFundMe page they set up for the Brown family.

"The boys apparently only walk home on that road on Fridays," said Sgt. Chessere. "The one boy was very critically injured. It's very serious."

"Tyler is in the ICU currently fighting for his life," wrote their cousin. "Once Tyler is stable he is going to have a long road to recovery ahead of him."

The crash investigation continues, but so far the woman has not been charged with any crimes.

The incident stunned Woodbridge, a sprawling township that, despite its size, retains its close-knit roots: That GoFundMe page has already raised nearly its goal of $15,000. The town of Woodbridge is also holding a fundraiser for the twin brothers and their family. Colonia Councilwoman Debbie Meehan and the Woodbridge mayor's office will hold a spaghetti dinner April 5 at the Colonia Fire House to help the Brown family pay for medical expenses. See the flyer below.

"My son went to Master Lee’s Tae Kwon Doe with both Kevin and Tyler and also attends Colonia High School," wrote one local woman on the GoFundMe, her message one of hundreds. "They are a loving family that deserve our support and prayers as part of our community."

Ongoing Patch reporting on this incident:

Woodbridge Teen In ICU After Being Hit By Car

Colonia High School Students Hit By Car In Woodbridge