83-Year-Old Pedestrian Struck in Franklin Avenue Crosswalk

Editor's note: The original report confused the streets involved. The pedestrian was struck crossing over Franklin Avenue, not Oak Street.

An 83-year-old Paterson man was struck in a crosswalk Monday morning by a female driver illegally attempting to illegal pass another vehicle, Ridgewood police said this afternoon.

While crossing over Franklin Avenue, John Heusser was hit by Lori Bandazian, 45, of Oakland, who tried to pass a car waiting for the pedestrian, Office Colin Donnelly said. She received four summonses for the accident.

Heusser takes the bus into Ridgewood daily to use the Bergen County YMCA. Walking toward the facility on Oak Street, Heusser was struck in the middle of the road before 11:23 a.m., Fire Lieutenant Steven Maffei said.

While turning left onto Franklin from Oak, Bandazian went around a car, and into oncoming traffic, when she struck  Heusser, who had the green light.

Donnelly said she was issued summonses for careless driving, failure to stop for a pedestrian in cross walk, improper passing and failure to maintain a lane. He also said she immediately pulled over and remained on the scene until Heusser departed.

After cared for by Ridgewood first responders, Heusser was transported to the Hackensack Trauma Center.

Police and fire crews arrived on the scene within minutes as each were engaged nearby, officials said.

Maffei said Heusser sustained a head injury—including a cut—and lacerations to his arm.

"He was quiet and  little shocked. We stabilized him. Police were there, and we pulled up him off the hot road and packaged him for the Trauma Center," he said. 

Officials placed Heusser on a board for fear of spine injuries, but Maffei said the man only complained of the head injury. 

While at the hospital Heusser told Donnelly he considered walking on the other side of the streets, as it's shadier. In good spirits, he said he wished he changed his mind.