Car accidents happen. That is a reality in today’s society, not only in the Somerville area, but throughout the nation. Sometimes they involve not another vehicle, but rather a pedestrian. Whatever the circumstances surrounding an auto accident involving a pedestrian, the failure to stop after the collision makes what is usually already a bad situation, even worse. Sadly, pedestrian hit-and-run accidents occur much more often than most realize.
One of these accidents occurred in a county neighboring Somerset earlier this week. The early morning incident took place near the intersection of Mountain Avenue with Route 46. There, a 22-year-old man was reportedly run over by a dump truck that after hitting the man, continued on its way. The dump truck is described as being green in color and rusty and beat-up.
Law enforcement was called to the scene shortly after the accident occurred. Despite this, the young man died there before he could be transported to a hospital.
The dump truck and its driver are being sought.
An investigation into the accident is currently underway. Among other things, it will likely determine why the man who died was in the middle of the street shortly after 4:00 a.m. Should the dump truck and its driver be located, it may be determined why the truck struck the man as well as why it left the scene.
In instances such as this one, when found, it is not uncommon for the person behind the wheel of the vehicle that killed another person to face criminal charges. Civil wrongful death lawsuits are common as well.
Source: myCentralJersey.com, “Dump truck strikes, kills man, flees,” Aug. 2, 2012