Wayne PD Seek Witnesses in Silver Alert Crash

A Silver Alert has turned into a crash investigation after police say an elderly Wayne woman crashed her vehicle the day after being reported missing by her family.

Mary Gwenn, 81, of Wayne was reported missing Friday night after leaving her residence in her 2005 Buick La Sabre and failing to come home, Wayne Police Captain Laurence Martin said. Gwenn, who was not in possession of a cell phone, suffered from medical issues and her family was “very concerned for her safety.”

After interviewing Gwenn’s daughter, a missing person report was filed and the New Jersey State Police were notified to release a state-wide Silver Alert. A Missing Person TRAK message was also issued, according to Captain Martin.

The next day, Jan. 31, Wayne police responded to the scene of a motor vehicle crash at Hinchman Concrete Company at 1:10 p.m. and discovered “a 2005 Buick La Sabre, which had been driven off of an approximately four foot retaining wall and was stuck with its font end down and rear wheels still up on the wall,” Captain Martin said.

Gwenn was found inside the vehicle and “was suffering from apparent exposure to the cold temperatures.” Responding paramedics considered her condition life-threatening and she was stabilized and transported to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson by the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad and St. Joseph’s Paramedics.

It was unknown how much time had passed between the actual crash and its discovery by the a Hinchman Concrete Company employee, according to Captain Martin.

The crash is now under investigation by the Wayne Police Traffic Bureau and anyone who may have witnessed this crash is asked to contact the Wayne Police Department Traffic Bureau at 973-633-3520 or has any information regarding the missing persons case should call Det. Dave Collins at 973-633-3530.