Update 8:16 p.m.
Captain David Wayman of the Westfield Police Department has confirmed that a pedestrian who was struck in an accident on North Avenue West Wednesday evening has been pronounced dead at Overlook Hospital in Summit.
Another pedestrian also involved in the accident is in serious condition at Univeristy Hospital in Newark after being flown in for treatment via helicopter.
Wayman said police received a call about pedestrians being struck in a crosswalk on North Avenue West near Tuttle Parkway around 6:05 p.m. Wednesday.
According to Wayman, a man was crossing North Avenue West in the crosswalk. A car stopped for him but he was still struck, Wayman said. The driver of the car that struck him got out of the vehicle to see if he was alright and the driver was then struck by another car. Wayman said a third vehicle was also involved but fled the scene.
"We believe we know the identity of that person," Wayman said.
Police are taking statements from witnesses and investigating the crime scene with the Union County Traffic Bureau and the Union County Prosecutor's Office.
When asked if anything suspicious occurred, Wayman said: "We are going to investigate all avenues and make sure that everything is covered."
North Avenue West is closed between Dudley and the plaza intersection by the circle near East Broad Street at least until midnight.
Original Story
Westfield Police are investigating an accident on North Avenue at Tuttle Parkway where two pedestrians have been struck.
A man and a woman were transported by helicopter to a hospital, according to officials on the scene.
The helicopter was going to land at the Roosevelt Intermediate School but was redirected.
Additional details on which hospital the pedestrians were taken to or their condition is unknown at this time.
The intersection where this accident occurred has been the scene of other accidents in the past. The last pedestrian strike in this area was the summer of 2009 — the victim survived.
North Avenue has been blocked off near the Lord & Taylor in Westfield and traffic is being redirected down Charles Street.
Police are investigating and considering the accident a crime scene. As of 7:35 p.m., Union County has also arrived to set up lights and assist in the accident investigation.
Patch will continue to update this story as more details become available.
Jeff, I have to ask, is it the "area" that's dangerous? If anything it's tough with people trying to drive across North from Tuttle or the Tuttle Bridge (that's an easy one, make each of the side streets right turn only). I hate to have an entire area altered and lit up like a landing strip because someone didn't take care when crossing the street.
I cross the street all the time around here in the dark (i am a commuter, so I have no choice). Simple fact, distracted or not, lit or not, DRIVERS in this town do not consider that pedestrians exist. I have seen more than one try to PULL AROUND another driver who is stopping for a pedestrian or biker, blatantly blow by a mother with a baby stroller in a X-walk, or honk their horn in anger at a guy flagging them down to stop so they can finish crossing. and I have seen it happen in full view of the westfield police with no action. Want to raise revenue? Camp out at a xwalk. I am a defensive pedestrian: I assume drivers don't see me, I have a reflective strip on my bag, and I am buying a flashing reflector today to clip on my bag. Thats my choice, but driver behavior needs to change.
On July 26, 2005, Westfield's Consulting Engineer Gordon Meyh authored a report titled "Traffic Calming and Safety Improvements for Eight (8) Locations. The report lists North and Tuttle as one of the locations. The report goes on to state the following, "To specifically address several hot-spot locations, the Public Safety, Transportation, and Parking Committee of the governing body of Westfield formed a Citizen's Traffic Advisory Committee." "Based primarily on the magnitude of requests and prioritization by the Westfield Police Department, eight (8) locations were chosen for a detailed study." North and Tuttle was categorized as a location that involves traffic and pedestrian safetty around a school. What has the Town done to improve safety for pedestrians at this location since the report was issued in 2005? More to follow tonight, at The Fact of The Matter at www.07090.blogspot.com
35 mph limit probably equates to 40/45 mph traffic; 25 mph limit would probably lower that to 30/35 mph.
My prayers to the famlies; so heartbreaking.
I hope no one every slams into the back of my car with my kids there because they cant obey the speed limit and yield to the car in front of them. Maybe PD should patrol North, South and West Broad and start issuing tickets. Drivers are not obeying the speed limits.