Motorist Cited for Careless Driving After Allegedly Striking & Killing Pedestrian in Oakland NJ Driveway

A motorist has been cited for careless driving in connection with a fatal car accident in Oakland, New Jersey. The tragic accident happened at around 9:44 a.m. on Thackeray Road in Oakland, NJ. According to law enforcement officials, the driver was behind the wheel of a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and pulling out of a driveway when he struck two people who happened to be walking by at the time. One of those pedestrians was 38-year-old Oakland resident Nora Kohlash.

Lt. Christian Eldridge of the Oakland Police Department in Bergen County issued a statement about the fatal accident and said that the Jeep initially hit Kohlash and the other victim while backing out of the driveway. However, immediately after the incident, the driver of the Jeep then reportedly pulled forward into the driveway before suddenly rolling backward and pinning Kohlash under the motor vehicle.

Traffic Violations & Vehicular Manslaughter Charges in Bergen County, NJ

Authorities have not identified the other pedestrian who was walking with Kohlash when the accident occurred, nor have they identified the motorist who allegedly struck the two victims. (Police did indicate that Kohlash and the other pedestrian knew each other and were walking together.) While the second victim survived their injuries, Kohlash was not so lucky: she was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by medical officials.

Although Kohlash died as a result of her injuries, the driver of the Jeep has not yet been charged with a crime. Thus far, the driver has merely been cited for a traffic offense for careless driving. However, depending on the findings of Oakland investigators, it’s possible that the motorist responsible for the fatal accident could face criminal charges for vehicular homicide or assault by auto. These types of charges would expose the driver to prison time because they are classified as felony-level offenses.

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