NORTH BERGEN — Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari released a statement regarding a pedestrian who was hit by a Chevy Tahoe on Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen.
The pedestrian, 33, of North Bergen, was struck at approximately 8:22 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The driver of the Tahoe, a 45-year-old resident of North Bergen, immediately called 911 and remained at the scene until police arrived.
The North Bergen Police and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit responded to the crash near Tonnelle Avenue and 48th Street.
North Bergen Police units found the man unconscious lying in the north bound lanes of Tonnelle Avenue, with severe head injuries.
A statement from the Sherriff’s office said that the man “regained consciousness and became combative when North Bergen EMS workers were treating him.” He was then transported to the Jersey City Medical Center and was initially listed in critical condition, but has since regained consciousness and has been stabilized. He still remains at the Jersey City Medical Center for observation.
According to the statement, the investigators pieced together that the victim was crossing Tonnelle Avenue, from the west side to the east side, between cars that were stopped in the south bound lanes. When he entered the north bound lane he was struck.
Sheriff’s Crash Investigators believe the victim had ear buds in his ears and have confirmed the victim was not in a crosswalk. The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Crash Investigation Unit and the North Bergen Police Traffic Bureau.
The driver has not been charged.
There have been many accidents on Tonnelle Ave., and there was an effort to reduce them in the form of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s “Operation Slow Down, and Save Lives” initiative in April. The program placed heavier enforcement on speeding, yielding to pedestrians, and jaywalking.