5-Car Accident Sends 3 to Hospital

A man driving westbound on Fair Lawn Avenue around noon Thursday lost control of his burgundy Buick LeSabre and jumped the right-hand curb, striking a garbage can, three street signs and a telephone pole, before crashing into another car as it was exiting an adjacent parking lot, police said.

The telephone pole split and came crashing down on the roof of the LeSabre.

The accident occurred between Pollitt Drive and Plaza Road, an area already snarled with traffic congestion because of Verizon construction necessitated by flood damage.

In all, five cars took damage in the accident, three of which were not directly involved, but were struck by objects sent flying by the initiating driver.

Both the driver, who was described by police as elderly, and a female passenger, also described as elderly, were taken by ambulance to Hackensack Hospital with substantial head, neck and back injuries. Lt. Derek Bastinck said both were conscious and their injuries did not appear life-threatening.

The woman whose red Chevy Cobalt was hit while exiting the shopping plaza’s parking lot also was transported to Hackensack Hospital, complaining of back pain.

A white Nissan Maxima parked in the lot adjacent to the accident was struck by a garbage can on the driver’s side door. Its owner, Farooq Mirza, said he could not get the door open and would likely need to have his car towed. He said he was working in the plaza’s Wells Fargo Bank and didn’t see the accident take place.

A silver Audi A3 further up the road and stuck in traffic, was struck by one of the signs sent flying out of the ground and had its back windshield shattered.

A gold Lincoln Continental, also stopped in Fair Lawn Avenue traffic, took damage from the fallen telephone pole.

Lt. Bastinck said he did not know yet why the man had lost control of his vehicle or how fast he was driving when he did.