Pedestrian Remains in Critical Care After SUV Strike

A woman remains in critical condition at St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson after she was struck by an SUV Sunday afternoon in Ridgewood.

The victim, whose identity has not been released, was walking in the crosswalk at Doremus and Ackerman Avenue Sunday at around 3 p.m. when an SUV apparently made a left-hand turn onto Doremus and struck the victim, said Chief John Ward Monday morning.

The victim sustained serious head trauma and was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital by medical personnel. The victim, who was conscious when police arrived on scene, was visiting family on Sunday, Ward told Patch. 

"It's a horrible tragedy," Ward told Patch Monday morning. "We're praying for her and our hearts go out to her family."

Sunday's accident is the fifth in 2012. None of the prior pedestrian-involved motor vehicle accidents this year required the victim be transported to the hospital, according to data from the police department.

"With the exception of this one, the severity of injuries in pedestrian accidents has been a lot lessened," Ward said. "Obviously this one is very serious."

The driver of the late model Infiniti SUV, also not from Ridgewood, was taken to police custody. He was released Sunday night but police have not released further details of his identity nor a full account of what happened.

Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Fatal Accident Investigations Unit (FAIU) are still finalizing the report, Ward said.

"When the report is finalized, we'll be able to provide more information," he said.

This report was last updated at 1:20 p.m. Monday. Check back for updates as information is made available.