Pedestrian Uses Umbrella, Handbag to Avoid Being Run Over

A pedestrian crossing Franklin Avenue shielded her body from being hit by a vehicle late Monday afternoon by using an umbrella and handbag, Ridgewood police said on scene.

According to village police, traffic allowed a female driver turn left from Atlantic Stewardship Bank onto Franklin Avenue. While turning, the driver reportedly had trouble seeing the pedestrian due to heavy rain and the bar connecting the windshield and driver's side window obstructing her sight.

Fortunately, the alert pedestrian used her umbrella and handbag to take the force of the vehicle's impact, according to police. The vehicle never made contact with the pedestrian, though police said she was shaken up.

The driver was issued a citation for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

It's the second pedestrian-related accident in the last few days on Franklin Avenue. On Friday afternoon, a Paterson woman was struck by a 21-year-old Hawthorne resident.

According to the police report, the driver's view was obstructed by the NJ Transit bus the victim was getting off near the Walnut St. intersection. The victim walked in front of the bus and the driver, travelling west, did not have time to fully brake, according to the report. She sustained minor injuries in the accident.

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