HARRISON –
Two men standing in the street were badly hurt after they were struck by a vehicle on N. Second St. in Harrison last Wednesday, Dec. 30, police said.
Police Lt. David Doyle said the accident occurred at about 7:25 p.m. in front of 321 N. Second St.
Doyle said Steven Alves, 34, and Joaquim Goncalves, 45, both of Harrison, were standing in the northbound lane of N. Second, behind a double-parked BMW owned by Alves’ father, when a Toyota Sienna van driven by Jandry Torres, 25, of Kearny, reportedly approached the parked vehicle from behind and hit both men, pinning them against the BMW.
Alves and Goncalves both suffered significant leg injuries and were transported to University Hospital, Newark, where both are receiving “ongoing surgeries,” Doyle said.
Both were listed in critical condition as of last week, he said.
Doyle said that investigators learned that Torres was an unlicensed driver. The car he was driving was registered to his father. Inside the van was one passenger, the driver’s 16-year-old brother. Neither of the brothers was hurt.
According to Doyle, Torres told police he could not recall how the accident happened. He reportedly consented to a blood test, the results of which are pending, Doyle said.
Harrison Police Officer Michael Gilmore, accident investigator, is reviewing the incident to determine the cause of the crash, Doyle said.
Torres was charged with DWI, based on the investigators’ belief that the impairment was due, not to alcohol, but to fatigue or narcotics. He was also ticketed for reckless driving and unlicensed driving. An assault by auto charge is pending, Doyle said.
– Ron Leir
