Auto-pedestrian accident leaves man with serious injuries

Authorities report that a 62-year-old man riding a bicycle was critically injured when a car hit him on Sept. 9. Police believe that the New Jersey man driving the vehicle was intoxicated at the time of the crash, which occurred just before 5 p.m. at the intersection of Ramapo Valley Road and North Railroad Avenue in Mahwah.

According to the authorities, a 64-year-old local man in a pickup truck collided head-on with the bicyclist when he attempted to negotiate a sharp left turn from southbound Ramapo Valley Road onto North Railroad Avenue. Authorities said that the Suffern, New York, man riding the bicycle suffered head injuries when he fell from the bicycle following the impact. First responders immediately transported him to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson where he was treated for his serious injuries.

Police took the truck driver into custody on charges of assault by auto while driving drunk. Law enforcement officials stated that the man had the appearance of intoxication when the crash occurred. After the driver posted bail of $25,000, police released him from custody. He was issued summonses for driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. On Sept. 10, officials were waiting on toxicology test results following a mandatory blood draw taken shortly after the accident.

When a bicyclist is involved in a car accident caused by an allegedly intoxicated or otherwise negligent driver, the bicyclist is likely to suffer severe injuries due to his or her lack of protection from impacts. Some of these drivers might claim that they did not see a bicyclist because of where the cyclist was riding or because of the angle of the sun. At such times, a lawyer could help the bicyclist hold the driver accountable.

Source: NJ.com, “Mahwah man charged with DWI in crash that critically injured bicyclist, prosecutor says“, September 10, 2014