Update: Out-of-Control Vehicle Slams Into Minivan, Sending Eight to Hospital

[Editor's note: Updated Sunday, September 18 at 8:52 p.m. Ridgewood Police Lieutenant Forest Lyons confirmed the Scion is believed to have struck the minivan, which was waiting at the light. He said the figure of nine injuries originally reported was incorrect; the police later found it was a total of eight injuries. The accident remains an ongoing investigation, he said, and no other information is currently available.]

Nearly ten people were sent to local hospitals after a gruesome two-car crash late Saturday night at the intersection of East Ridgewood and North Pleasant avenues.

According to witnesses at the scene, a blue Scion was traveling west on East Ridgewood Ave. and approaching North Pleasant Ave. at a high rate of speed when it veered into a yard, knocked down a large bush, hit a fire box and careened into a minivan waiting at the light.

Both vehicles then sputtered into small trees where they came to rest, witnesses said.

A total of eight were injured in the crash, according to Police Lt. Forest Lyons, who again confirmed Sunday that all appear to be non life-threatening injuries. Several were taken to Hackensack University Medical Center's trauma center.

Multiple small children were in the minivan when it was struck, but witnesses said they appeared to be uninjured. An adult occupant in the minivan complained of a knee or leg injury and had been bleeding from his head. 

The fire department had to extricate at least one victim of the crash and several ambulances were dispatched to the area.

Police shut down East Ridgewood Avenue east of Kenilworth Road for several hours.

"It was real loud," said witness Andrew Basso of the crash. "It didn't even sound like a car crash. It sounded like an explosion."

Charges have not been filed but may be pending, according to Lyons.

Police, as of Sunday night, could not provide details of the investigation, as it is ongoing. It will likely take days to sort out, police said.

Patch will update when more information is made available.