Mahwah PD: Man Walking Across Rt. 17 Hit By Car

MAHWAH, NJ - A 36-year-old Mahwah man trying to cross Route 17 on foot was seriously injured Saturday evening after a car struck him in the middle of the busy highway, authorities said.

Officers were dispatched to Route 17 south near MacArthur Boulevard shortly before 6 p.m. on a report of a pedestrian struck by a car, Police Chief Stephen Jaffe said.

Upon arrival, police found a man on the ground, with a head injury and semi-responsive, Jaffe said. He was immediately taken to Hackensack University Medical Center by Mahwah EMS, the chief said.

The driver told police he was traveling in the highway’s center lane when he saw a pedestrian in the middle of Route 17, Jaffe said. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the driver swerved but wound up striking the pedestrian with his truck’s passenger side mirror, the chief said.

“Witnesses interviewed on scene stated they observed the pedestrian walking with a can walk onto the highway southbound lanes with an apparent attempt to cross the busy highway,” Jaffe said.

Police are continuing to investigate and no charges have been filed at this time, according to the chief.

As of Sunday evening, the man is listed in stable condition at the hospital, Jaffe added.