Lodi, NJ Hit-and-Run: Pedestrian Seriously Injured on Passaic Avenue as SUV Driver Flees Scene

A pedestrian was struck and seriously injured by a dark-colored SUV near 343 Passaic Ave. in Lodi, Bergen County, in the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. According to the Lodi Police Department, the vehicle was heading north on Passaic Avenue when it hit the man as he crossed the street. Police place the crash at about 2:13 a.m. Investigators said the victim had just returned home from work and parked on the street shortly after 2 a.m., and that he appears to have been struck from behind while crossing. Police said the female driver got out, appeared to speak briefly with the injured man, and then fled north on Passaic Avenue before turning left onto First Street and heading west. The victim was able to get back on his feet, and the driver swerved around him as she drove away. He then walked home, called for an ambulance and was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. Police believe the vehicle is a Hyundai Tucson SUV. No arrest or charge has been announced. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Fausto Caamano at 973-473-7600 ext. 8127 or [email protected].

Location and Infrastructure

Passaic Avenue is one of Lodi's principal north-south roadways, running through a dense mix of homes, apartment buildings and small businesses. Many residents along the corridor rely on on-street parking, so pedestrians routinely cross between parked vehicles and their residences, often mid-block rather than at a signalized intersection. Overnight hours bring lighter traffic, which can allow higher vehicle speeds, while darkness reduces how easily drivers can see people in the roadway. First Street, where the SUV turned west, connects Passaic Avenue to the surrounding residential grid. Lodi sits in southwestern Bergen County near Garfield, Hackensack and Saddle Brook, with Route 46 and Interstate 80 nearby. The corridor has seen similar incidents before: in November 2022, a pedestrian was struck on Passaic Avenue near Home Place by a driver who fled north on Passaic Avenue.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under N.J.S.A. 39:4-129, a New Jersey driver involved in a crash resulting in injury must stop, remain at the scene, provide identifying, license and registration information, and render reasonable assistance. Knowingly leaving the scene of a crash that results in serious bodily injury may be charged as a criminal offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.1. Because New Jersey is a no-fault insurance state, an injured pedestrian generally seeks Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits first through his own auto policy or a household member's policy. When the at-fault driver is unidentified, uninsured motorist coverage or the state's Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund may apply, and these carry strict notice requirements, including a 90-day notice period for certain hit-and-run claims. The general statute of limitations for personal injury actions is two years under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. Potentially recoverable damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, subject to New Jersey's modified comparative negligence standard.

Related Resources

Emergency Services

• Emergency: 911
• Lodi Police Department: 973-473-7600 (Detective Fausto Caamano, ext. 8127, [email protected])
• Bergen County Prosecutor's Office: 201-646-2300 | https://www.bcpo.net
• Hackensack University Medical Center (Level I Trauma Center), 30 Prospect Ave., Hackensack, NJ

Traffic Safety Resources

• New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety: https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-highway-traffic-safety-home/
• Street Smart NJ Pedestrian Safety Campaign: https://bestreetsmartnj.org
• New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission: https://www.nj.gov/mvc/

Victim Support Services

• New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Office: https://www.njoag.gov/programs/victims-of-crime-compensation-office/
• Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Victim-Witness Advocacy: https://www.bcpo.net
• New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association (Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund): https://www.njpliga.org
• New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, Consumer Assistance: https://www.nj.gov/dobi/
• NJ 211 (community and health services referrals): https://www.nj211.org

State Traffic Laws and Regulations

• New Jersey Statutes, Title 39 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation): https://lis.njleg.state.nj.us
• New Jersey Legislature Statutes Search: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us