BLOOMINGDALE, Passaic County, N.J., Sept. 29, 2026 — Two pedestrians were seriously hurt Sunday evening, September 27, after a car struck them in a marked crosswalk on Main Street in Bloomingdale, according to police. Both were thrown into the air and landed in the roadway some distance apart, authorities said.
The man and woman were crossing Main Street near Ryerson Avenue in a marked crosswalk around 7:39 p.m. when a Kia Soul struck them, Bloomingdale Police Sgt. Sami Zeidan said. The driver, a 64-year-old Bloomingdale woman, stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, according to the authorities.
Police said the pedestrians' injuries were initially severe enough that a medical helicopter was requested, but weather conditions kept aircraft grounded. Tri Boro First Aid Squad and Atlantic Advanced Life Support crews instead brought both victims by ground ambulance to St. Joseph's Medical Center Trauma Center in Paterson with serious injuries, authorities said.
Bystanders stopped to help before emergency crews arrived, offering blankets, umbrellas and other assistance, police said. The department publicly thanked residents for stepping in during what it called a frightening situation.
The Bloomingdale Police Department's Traffic Unit Investigation Team is handling the investigation. No further details on the pedestrians' conditions have been released.
We wish those injured a full recovery.
Where Crosswalk Pedestrian Crashes Tend to Cluster
Serious pedestrian crashes tend to concentrate on wide, multi-lane roads that cut through town centers, the kind of street that carries steady traffic but also draws foot traffic to shops, transit stops and parking areas nearby. Main Street arterials like these mix crosswalks, driveways and turning vehicles in a short stretch, which raises the chance that a driver's attention is split at the exact moment a pedestrian steps off the curb.
Unsignalled or mid-block crosswalks add another layer of risk. Without a traffic light forcing a full stop, drivers may not expect pedestrians to be present, especially after dark or in poor weather, when visibility drops and reaction time shrinks. Intersections near commercial strips, schools or transit stops see this pattern repeatedly because they combine higher pedestrian volume with faster-moving traffic than side streets.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 77 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred in the dark in 2023. That pattern holds across many suburban and small-town main streets, where lighting can be inconsistent and drivers may not see a pedestrian in a crosswalk until they are close.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do most pedestrian crashes happen?
Many occur on wider arterial roads and at intersections where crosswalks are unsignalled or poorly lit, rather than on quiet residential streets.
Are pedestrian crashes more common after dark?
Yes. National crash data shows a large majority of pedestrian deaths happen in low-light or nighttime conditions, when visibility is reduced for both drivers and people on foot.
What should a pedestrian do after being struck by a vehicle?
Stay as still as possible and wait for emergency responders, even if injuries seem minor at first. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some injuries take hours to fully show up.
Who has the right of way at a crosswalk?
In New Jersey and most states, pedestrians in a marked crosswalk generally have the right of way, but drivers and pedestrians both share responsibility for watching traffic before proceeding.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Bloomingdale, NJ
Anyone involved in or witnessing a pedestrian crash should call 911 immediately and avoid moving an injured person unless there's an immediate danger, such as oncoming traffic. Even without any visible injury, it's worth being checked at a hospital, since some trauma isn't obvious right away.
If you're a witness, staying to speak with officers and offering basic comfort, like the blankets and support Bloomingdale residents gave here, can make a real difference while help is on the way. Reporting what you saw accurately helps investigators piece together how the crash happened.
For residents of Bloomingdale, following up with local police for any updates on a reported crash, and cooperating fully if contacted by the Traffic Unit Investigation Team, supports a thorough and fair review of what occurred.
