Crime & Safety

Ferraros' Employee Hit by Car

Employee sustains injuries in downtown pedestrian accident.

A Ferraros' employee was hit by a car while crossing Elm Street early Friday evening.

The accident, which occurred around 5:15 p.m. on Friday, involved a white BMW SUV turning from North Avenue on to Elm. According to witnesses, the employee was in the process of crossing Elm Street around the North Avenue intersection when he was hit by the BMW.

The accident appeared to be at a low speed, with no damage visible to the SUV. Witnesses to the accident said the victim landed on the ground and got up very quickly appearing stunned. He was escorted by another Ferraros' employee to a chair in the restaurant's outdoor dining area, where he waited for emergency crews to arrive.

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The victim was placed in an ambulance by the Westfield Rescue Squad, where he was partially treated at the scene. The ambulance took the victim to a nearby hospital. The victim's condition is not known, but witnesses said he was walking around following the impact.

"He was in shock," said one witness who declined to be named.

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Many eating in Ferraros' outdoor dining area heard the accident and saw the aftermath, but did not see the actual impact. Some said they did not hear the victim have impact with the SUV.

"She slammed on her brakes," a witness dining at Ferraros said of the driver.

The driver could be seen standing with someone else alongside Elm Street following the accident. She declined to comment on the accident or provide her name.

It is not known who is at fault in the accident or if the police will be issueing a ticket in this instance.

The accident follows a string of pedestrian accidents or near hits in the downtown area over the last year. Last fall, a person was hit by a car just down Elm Street at the intersection with Quimby, while crossing Elm. Last August, a Lord & Taylor employee was hit while crossing North Avenue by an apparent drunk driver. Just after Thanksgiving, two teenagers were hit by a food delivery person while crossing West Broad Street. And last spring, a Y employee was killed while crossing the street near the Methodist Church.

Witnesses said emergency crews responded quickly to the scene, noting a parking enforcement officer happened upon the scene within seconds and summoned police within 30 seconds of the accident.

"The Westfield police came quickly," a witness said.

Editor's Note: Patch intern Chris Salemme contributed to this report.


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