Princeton NJ police are investigating a motor vehicle accident that seriously injured two people.
A 54-year-old West Windsor man, accompanied by his 8-year-old son, attempted to cross Washington Road in Princeton when he was reportedly struck by a car. According to authorities, the 8-year-old child was also hit by the vehicle.
The two victims had been riding their bikes, but they stopped to walk the bikes across Washington Road at a towpath.
Police said that a Honda Accord stopped so that the man and his son could get across the road safely. However, as they reached the shoulder of the road, a 2005 Jeep Liberty tried to pass the Honda and allegedly hit the two pedestrians.
According to police, the driver of the Jeep Liberty was a 28-year-old Dayton NJ resident.
Shortly after the accident, the adult victim was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton to be treated for his injuries. Meanwhile, the son was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
Thankfully, neither victim suffered life-threatening injuries as a result of the accident.
Princeton police officers are currently investigating to determine if criminal charges should be filed.
If police ultimately determine that the driver of the car in this case acted recklessly, he could be charged with reckless driving. This is a very serious criminal charge that can potentially result in the offender being sentenced to up to 2 months in jail.
Additionally, the driver could be subject to significant civil penalties as a result of the pedestrian accident. Anyone who operates a motor vehicle in the State of New Jersey is expected to share the road with bicyclists and remain attentive when pedestrians attempt to cross the road. If a motor vehicle driver fails to yield or negligently hits a pedestrian or bicyclist, they may be liable for any injuries suffered by the victim.
To learn more about this incident, read the NJ.com article entitled “Pedestrian Accident in Princeton Seriously Injures Father, 8-Year-Old Son.”
