On Monday morning, a tragic multi-vehicle crash occurred in Jersey City, resulting in the loss of three lives. Additionally, a woman is currently in critical condition and fighting for her life.
According to Eyewitness News, the road has a distressing record of fatal accidents, leaving residents questioning why authorities haven’t taken more action to prevent further incidents.
According to reports, a collision between two vehicles occurred on Paterson Plank Road near Congress Street at approximately 12:30 a.m.
According to authorities, the sedan, a Kia Amanti, was forcefully pushed against a wall after being struck head-on by a BMW SUV at the intersection.
Upon arriving at the scene, authorities pronounced Dylan Weidenfeld, a 26-year-old resident of Jersey City, dead. Weidenfeld was the driver of the Kia involved in the incident.
In a statement released by Plays-in-the-Park, Weidenfeld, who held the position of artistic director and was also an actor, expressed his thoughts.
At Plays-in-the-Park, Dylan was not only a talented singer and actor, but also a cherished friend to all of us. His presence on our stage and within our community was truly special, and his absence will be deeply felt not only by us, but by the entire theatre community in Middlesex County and beyond. Our hearts are heavy with sadness at the news of his passing. Dylan will be sorely missed.
During the time of the accident, there were five individuals present in the BMW. Unfortunately, a female passenger seated in the back lost her life on the spot, while a male passenger seated in the backseat was taken to Jersey City Medical Center. Despite medical attention, he was also pronounced dead.
The authorities have refrained from disclosing their identities at this point in time.
The Jersey City Medical Center is currently treating a 19-year-old female who was the third passenger in the backseat. Unfortunately, her condition is critical at the moment.
Both the male driver and female passenger, who were 23 years old and from Jersey City, sustained injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. The driver was operating a BMW at the time of the incident.
Over the course of seven years, eight individuals have lost their lives on a particular stretch of Paterson Plank Road. The area in question is a hill with a dangerous blind curve, making it a particularly treacherous section of roadway.
The Local Safety Program by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority has been a boon for Hudson County, as it has received over $53.3 million in federal funding for infrastructure upgrades. Among the improvements is a $12 million grant dedicated to enhancing safety on Paterson Plank Road. This substantial investment will surely bring about much-needed improvements to the county’s transportation infrastructure.
The ongoing work on Paterson Plank Road involves several improvements that have been implemented to enhance safety. These include the installation of a rumble stripe in the center of the road, as well as rumble strips across the lane right before the curve. Additionally, a high friction surface treatment has been applied to the roadway, and slow 25 mph signs have been placed both at the top and bottom of the hill. These measures will help to ensure that drivers can navigate the road with greater ease and avoid potential accidents.
Jersey City’s Safe Streets organization has issued a statement, which reads as follows:
It’s unacceptable that we still see fatal accidents happening on a road with a speed limit of just 25 mph. Following a study in 2020 that highlighted a high rate of crashes on Paterson Plank Road in comparison to other county roads, Hudson County received a $12 million grant to implement safety improvements on this stretch. Sadly, these safety measures remain incomplete, and now three lives have been lost. Cyclists and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to severe injury or death on this road. Urgent action is needed to make our streets safer. For years, safety advocates have been calling for changes to be made on high-injury streets. It’s time for our leaders at every level of government to recognize the sense of urgency and take action before more lives are lost or forever changed.
In August, the county revealed the establishment of a Vision Zero task force with the aim of finding ways to reduce roadway accidents. Among the areas of concern for road safety advocates is Paterson Plank Road.
The task force is exploring several options to enhance safety on the road, including the installation of a median that can help prevent head-on collisions. However, they are also seeking input from the local community since there may be differing opinions on the most effective approach to improve safety.
The authorities are looking into the recent collision and are seeking the public’s assistance in shedding light on the matter. If you have any information that could be helpful to the investigation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345. Alternatively, you can submit an anonymous tip through their website: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. Your cooperation can aid in bringing justice to those involved in the incident.
New images of a suspect who is wanted for assaulting a Sikh man on an MTA bus in Queens have been made public by the police.
More News:
- NYPD Identifies Victim in Fatal Midtown Morning Murder
- Cops report that in broad daylight, four men attack and injure three teenagers near NYC schools.
