By Karen Zautyk
Observer Correspondent
KEARNY –
What began as a Harrison Ave. fenderbender ended in tragedy Friday morning with the death of one of the motorists, who was struck by yet another vehicle after he had exited his own, Kearny police reported.
Police said the victim, 62-year-old Oscar Carpio of Jersey City, was westbound in the pre-dawn darkness at 6:15 a.m. when his Hyundai Santa Fe sideswiped a box truck that had become disabled in the right lane of the avenue (County Rt. 508). He pulled in front of the truck and got out of his SUV to exchange information with the other driver.
While Carpio was standing in the roadway, police said, he was hit by a westbound Toyota RAV4 operated by a 55-year-old man from Budd Lake.
Kearny EMS responded, but Carpio was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:47 a.m.
Police said the truck driver, a 27-year-old East Newark resident, was “brushed” by the RAV4 but his injuries were not life-threatening. He was transported to St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, treated and released.
Police said the driver who hit them was not hurt and had immediately pulled to the side of the road.
The accident investigation was continuing, but reportedly there were no charges pending.
The fatality occurred near the Dominick Daniels USPS Distribution Center.
Heavily traveled Harrison Ave. was closed to traffic in both directions until nearly 9 a.m.
