Driver, Not Pedestrian, Killed In 5-Car Passaic County Crash: Officials

CLIFTON, NJ — After originally saying a pedestrian died in a five-car crash Wednesday in Clifton, officials now say the deceased man was actually in his vehicle when a speeding driver ran into him.

According to police and the Prosecutor's Office, a Madison woman was driving a Chevy Trailblazer "at a high rate of speed" along Getty Avenue, just before 10:40 a.m. The Trailblazer struck a Honda Civic and a Dodge Ram truck, then continued down the street and also hit a Toyota RAV4 and a Volkswagen Jetta, officials said.

Surveillance video obtained by northjersey.com shows the Trailblazer speeding through a red light at the intersection.

A 52-year-old Newton man, who was behind the wheel of the Civic, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's University Medical Center. He has not yet been identified.

"Despite initial information stating a pedestrian was killed, further investigation revealed no pedestrians were injured as a result of the motor vehicle collision," the prosecutor's office said.

The other people involved in the crash had injuries not considered to be life-threatening, officials said. Officials continue to investigate the crash.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to contact the Prosecutor's Office tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO, or by email at tips@passaiccountynj.org.