By: Richard L. Smith
An active search is underway for the driver of a vehicle that ran over a man, his young daughter and another person causing fatal injuries for the 4-year-old girl Tuesday night in Newark's North Ward.
It happened around 6 p.m. near the intersection of 6th Avenue West and North 9th Street.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene after police communications dispatch received several frantic calls reporting individuals struck by a speeding vehicle.
When police and EMS arrived at the scene, they found a 4-year-old girl suffering severe bodily injuries. Officials said the child's father and the other person were also injured at that location.
Essex County officials said the child was pronounced dead shortly after the collision.
Officials confirmed that the child's father and the other person were transported to University Hospital in Newark suffering non-life-threatening injuries.
While The Essex County Prosecutor's Office will lead the investigation, officials have not released much information.
Residents in the neighborhood expressed frustration with what they called a "consistently declining community."
"This is the second incident where someone loses their life due to -them- playing around in stolen cars and driving recklessly around the community. Less than two years ago, a lady was killed the same way". -a North 9th Street resident anonymously told RLS Media.
On Tuesday, October 5, RLS Media reported that The Essex County Prosecutor's Office was on the scene of a pedestrian strike with a woman fatally injured on 6th Avenue.
A preliminary investigation indicated that at approximately 6:47 p.m., police were dispatched to the 300 block of 6th Avenue West to investigate reports of a person hit by a car.
Upon arrival, police found a severely injured female lying on the ground at that location. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Residents said drug dealers and gang members use the residential streets as highways while they recklessly speed through the community in stolen cars and unlawful dirt bikes to transport drugs and guns to that section of Newark.
"The same lawbreakers drive crazy up and down 6th Avenue in Newark in stolen cars and dirt bikes every day, especially during summertime. No matter who we call or contact, it's awful, gets worse and nothing ever changes", the resident said.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. No arrests have been reported.