Two Injured in Lawrence and Dudley Accident

Two people were transported to Overlook Hospital following an accident at the intersection of East Dudley Street and Lawrence Avenue early Monday evening.

Details remain unclear on the exact cause of the accident which severely damaged two cars and left a third car with scrapes. Firefighters on the scene said two of those involved sought ambulance transport to Overlook, one for a wrist injury and the second complaining of neck pain. Three others involved in the accident declined to seek emergency medical treatment.

Firefighters said that all of the individuals in the accident were able to leave the vehicles on their own and none appeared to be severely injured. A witness who lives at the intersection said that one of those injured was lifted into an ambulance via a back board.

The accident occurred shortly before 6 p.m. on Monday.

A Toyota Prius received damage to passenger side and the front end, which hit a telephone pole at the insection. The Prius also had a bent axle. A blue Nissan received front end damage and a popped hood. Air bags deployed in both vehicles. A Lexus SUV at the intersection next to both damaged cars was scraped in the accident. The Toyota and Nissan were taken from the scene on a flatbed truck and the Lexus was driven away.

The direction the Toyota ended up in and damage were consistent with the Prius headed through the intersection on Lawrence Avenue towards downtown Westfield. The damage on the Nissan was consistent with driving on Dudley towards Mountain Avenue. The Lexus was stopped on Lawrence at the intersection headed away from downtown.

It is not known if the Prius had gone through the stop sign at the intersection without stopping. The driver and passenger of the Nissan are students at Westfield High School. The driver of the Prius appeared to a be mother with a child.

The intersection of Lawrence and Dudley is one of the busiest in town, serving as a main route between downtown and Route 22.. Residents who came to the accident site Monday were overheard suggesting that a four way stop or a traffic light be placed at the intersection.