Officials: 1 dead, 6 injured after driver crashes into multiple vehicles, strikes pedestrians in Paterson

PATERSON, N.J. — One person was killed and six others were injured in a chaotic crash in Paterson on Tuesday afternoon.

The Passaic County prosecutor’s office says the driver of a Honda CR-V struck an occupied police vehicle that was pulled over on the side of the road, then crashed into another vehicle before striking several pedestrians. The driver eventually crashed into a light pole.

One person was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s identity has not yet been released.

Six people were taken to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center to be treated for injuries.

“My life flashed before my eyes,” Shamir Smith told CBS2’s Nick Caloway.

The 17-year-old was waiting for a bus on his way home from school around 3 p.m. when a car came careening through the intersection of Main Street and Market Street.

Witnesses say the car was being chased by police when it crashed and ran over multiple people. Surveillance video shows a vehicle in reverse right before the collision.

“And unfortunately when I tried to dodge that car, I still ended up getting hit by a big trash can, a metal trash can that hit my foot,” Shamir said.

Witnesses say they saw people lying on the ground, badly injured.

“It’s crazy. That was very hard to see,” witness Yecika Placencia said.

Placencia says she barely got out of the way.

“I crossed the street and I heard the crash. Then I ran back, and I see there’s two people on the floor, on the ground,” she said.

Shamir escaped with minor injuries.

“My knee is a little swollen, my arm, but my foot more, I can’t really walk on it,” he said.

After seeing the carnage up close, he knows he’s lucky to be alive.

“If I was a little late coming to the bus, that could’ve been me, but I’m so glad it wasn’t,” he said.

Witnesses say they saw the driver of the car take off on foot before being arrested not far away.