Chain Reaction Results in Pedestrian Strike on Ridgewood Sidewalk

A New York man was rushed to a trauma center after a driver lost control of her vehicle, mounted the sidewalk and struck him Thursday afternoon on South Maple Avenue.

According to Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward, the male driver of a dark-colored Nissan turned southbound onto Maple Avenue from Dayton Street, cutting off the female driver of a Hyundai traveling southbound on South Maple. Attempting to avoid striking the Nissan, the driver of the Hyundai swerved. She lost control of the car, mounted the sidewalk and struck the pedestrian before slamming into a nearby telephone pole, Ward said, citing witness statements.

The pedestrian, described as a man in his 50s from Rockland County, was rushed to St. Joseph's Medical Center suffering from what are believed to be serious injuries.

Meanwhile, police are searching for the driver of the Nissan thought to have caused the chain reaction. He was described as an Asian male driving a dark-colored Nissan sedan.

South Maple between Spring Avenue and East Ridgewood Avenue remains closed as the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit and police work the scene.

Last updated at 4:20 p.m.