Pedestrians injured in separate train, car accidents in Montclair
By ERIN ROLL
roll@montclairlocal.news
A pedestrian was struck by a train at the Claremont Avenue grade crossing and survived, while another was hit by a car at Pine Street and Walnut Street on Monday evening, Jan. 13.
The Montclair-Boonton Line train struck the pedestrian, identified only as an adult male, at the crossing, just west of Bay Street Station, at approximately 7 p.m., said NJ Transit spokeswoman Kate Thompson.
The man was taken to an area hospital with unspecified injuries. The investigation was still ongoing as of Tuesday evening.
Shortly after the train strike, a second pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle near the intersection of Pine Street and Walnut Street, police said.
The victim was identified as a 41-year-old Montclair man, and police said the man was believed to have been crossing from the west side of Pine Street to the east side when he was struck, about 15 feet south of the marked crosswalk.
The driver, a 29-year-old male from Wyckoff, remained on scene. The victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries by Verona EMS and Medic 7. He was transported to
Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson for further medical evaluation, police said.
The train, which departed Hoboken at 6:33 p.m. and was due to arrive in Lake Hopatcong at 8:14 p.m., was carrying 400 passengers and crew. No one aboard the train was injured, Thompson said.
Susan Baggs, a passenger aboard the train that struck the pedestrian at Claremont Avenue, told Montclair Local that she and several other passengers decided to leave the train and walk home from there.
On her way home, Baggs said she saw the accident aftermath on Pine Street. The man had sustained head injuries, but was conscious, she said.
A doctor who was passing by stopped to render aid to the victim until EMTs arrived, Baggs said.
Service on the Montclair-Boonton Line was suspended in both directions between Bay Street and Watchung Avenue as of 7:47 p.m. with service resuming by 8:24 p.m.