By: Richard L. Smith
Authorities in Essex County are actively investigating a tragic pedestrian collision that claimed the life of an elderly woman late Wednesday morning in the City of Orange.
The incident took place just before 10:55 a.m., when police and emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of South Jefferson Street and Main Street following a 911 call reporting a pedestrian had been hit.
When officers arrived, they found a woman lying unresponsive in the roadway bleeding as two individuals—identified as plainclothes emergency responders—took turns performing CPR while braving potentially dangerous condition in the middle of the intersection.
Video obtained by RLS Media showed a charcoal gray Jeep Wrangler was located nearby, along with its male driver, who remained at the scene.
Orange firefighters and EMS crews quickly arrived to assist, continuing life-saving efforts before transporting the woman to University Hospital in Newark.
Despite their attempts, she was pronounced dead at approximately 11:30 a.m. after suffering a severe head injury.
Preliminary findings indicate the SUV was traveling northbound on South Jefferson Street when the driver attempted to turn left onto Main Street.
During the turn, the vehicle struck the woman as she crossed Main Street from south to north.
Authorities have not filed any criminal charges at this time, and surveillance video from the area has been obtained as part of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office’s ongoing investigation.
The victim was later identified as a 76-year-old Ms. Lois Scott a resident of East Orange.
Heartbroken community members and business owners commended the quick actions of the two unidentified good Samaritans who tried to save the woman’s life amid the busy intersection.
Witnesses said Scott layed injured for several minutes before the plain clothes emergency responders arrived, making the pair’s efforts all the more meaningful.
The investigation remains active as officials work to determine the exact circumstances leading to the the fatal collision.