Teen Hit By Mail Truck, Pushed Into Traffic: Morris Plains PD

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ — A teenager avoided any serious injury after being struck by a mail truck and pushed into oncoming traffic on Halloween afternoon, Morris Plains Lt. Michael Koroski told Patch.

The 16-year-old boy was riding his bike south on the sidewalk along Littleton Road around 4:20 p.m., Koroski said. A U.S. Postal Service truck driving forward out of a driveway hit the teen, and the force pushed him into northbound traffic. The teen side-swiped a landscape truck in the northbound lanes.

The crash could have been much worse than it was, if the teen hit the landscaping truck just a little differently, Koroski told Patch.

"Somebody was watching out [for him]," Koroski said. The teen only sustained minor injuries, nothing life threatening. He was taken to a local hospital.

No charges have been filed and police are still looking into the cause. Koroski said that Halloween costumes, like a mask or a long costume getting stuck in the gears of the bike, were not a factor.

"The Postal Service takes great pride in safely delivering mail to every address in America. Yesterday’s incident in Morris Plains NJ is still under review. The Postal Service does not comment on pending investigations," a Postal Service spokesperson said in a statement.

Morris Plains police are urging residents to stay vigilant while driving, and always be aware of their surroundings to help avoid tragedies.

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