Hudson County prosecutors recently handed over case evidence and details in the death of a 24-year-old Jersey City man to a grand jury for consideration of charges against a 36-year-old police officer. The fatally injured man was hit by the officer’s personal pickup truck on a Friday night in mid-April at approximately 10 p.m. as he attempted to cross a busy downtown street.
The pedestrian was rushed by ambulance to Jersey City Medical Center, but was pronounced dead some 30 minutes later as a result of multiple blunt force trauma injuries, according to police.
According to prosecutors, the off-duty Jersey City officer was speeding and driving carelessly; he also was cited at the time for failure to wear a seatbelt. He was given citations at the time of the accident, but was not arrested.
The officer is back on active duty since the accident.
The charges submitted to the grand jury were not detailed by prosecutors, and it is not known whether the officer will appear before the grand jury.
Pedestrian accidents can happen at any time, which is why drivers should always follow traffic rules. Although pedestrians are responsible for observing the same traffic rules and regulations, motorists should keep in mind their vehicles have much greater mass, produce much greater force when traveling and can easily injure and kill pedestrians and even other motorists.
Receiving compensation, however, can be a challenge. Before filing a claim, a pedestrian accident victim or a victim’s family should take essential steps to fully prepare their case. It is important to establish driver negligence as the cause of an accident, so it is crucial to gather evidence, find witnesses and establish expert testimony about the incident before seeking damages through a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
Source: The Jersey Journal, “Case of Jersey City cop in deadly motor vehicle accident sent to grand jury,” Anthony J. Machcinski, July 24, 2013