A minivan driver suffered serious injuries Thursday afternoon, July 9, after losing consciousness behind the wheel and being rear-ended by a tractor-trailer on Route 17 southbound near Linwood Avenue in Ridgewood, New Jersey. According to incident reporter Boyd A. Loving, the driver of an older-model Toyota Sienna had come to a stop in the highway's right lane after apparently passing out, when a tractor-trailer struck the vehicle from behind. The driver was identified by police as Andres F. Munoz, 45, of North Bergen. Authorities later confirmed Munoz was under the influence at the time of the crash, was driving on a suspended or revoked New Jersey license, and was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants.

Ridgewood Fire Department EMS transported Munoz to Hackensack University Medical Center with serious injuries, with a paramedic team from The Valley Hospital assisting Ridgewood firefighters and EMTs at the scene. Ridgewood police officers escorted the ambulance to the hospital. The tractor-trailer driver was not injured. The heavily damaged Toyota Sienna was removed from the scene on a flatbed tow truck. The incident remains under investigation.

Location and Infrastructure

Route 17 southbound near Linwood Avenue in Ridgewood is a heavily traveled commercial corridor in Bergen County, carrying significant daily traffic volume, including a high proportion of commercial trucks and tractor-trailers moving through northern New Jersey. This stretch of highway is known for congestion, frequent lane changes, and reduced visibility around merge points, all of which can heighten the risk of rear-end collisions, particularly when a vehicle unexpectedly stops or becomes disabled in a travel lane. Ridgewood sits along a corridor bordered by several other Bergen County municipalities, and Route 17 serves as a primary north-south artery for the region. Traffic control in the area includes standard highway signage and lane markings, though the absence of a shoulder-accessible stopping area near this section can compound hazards when vehicles are forced to stop suddenly in active lanes of travel.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under New Jersey law, drivers who operate a vehicle while impaired or who ignore active arrest warrants may face compounded civil and criminal liability. New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence standard, meaning fault may be apportioned among multiple parties, which can affect the outcome of any injury claim. Because New Jersey is a no-fault insurance state, injured parties typically first pursue Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits through their own auto policy, regardless of fault, before pursuing a separate liability claim if the "verbal threshold" or serious injury standard is met. New Jersey's statute of limitations generally requires personal injury lawsuits to be filed within two years of the incident date. Potential compensation in cases involving serious injury may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage, depending on the specific facts and applicable insurance coverage.

An experienced Ridgewood car accident lawyer will handle all aspects of the insurance claim.

Related Resources

• Ridgewood Fire Department – Emergency medical and fire response services
• Ridgewood Police Department – Local traffic incident reports and non-emergency contact
• The Valley Hospital – Regional emergency and trauma care
• Hackensack University Medical Center – Trauma and emergency treatment center
• New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) – License status, suspension, and revocation information
• New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety – State traffic safety programs and statistics
• New Jersey Statutes – Title 39 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation) – State traffic laws and regulations
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – Federal traffic safety data and resources
• New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) – Support and financial assistance for crime victims, where applicable