The man with the cane standing at the bus stop turned his head around just in time to see death bearing down on him.
Maybe the 60-year-old had looked behind him because he heard the roaring acceleration of the Jeep Cheroke’s motor as the driver sped down Main Street. The pedestrian — wearing an unzipped Yankees jacket over a hooded blue sweatshirt — took one step to try to get out of the way.
But he never had a chance. In less than three seconds, the silver SUV plowed into him, dragging him about 20 feet before the vehicle came to a stop.
The fatal collision at about 10:08 a.m. on Friday was captured on video by three private security cameras, recordings that law enforcement officials are reviewing as part of their investigation. Law enforcement sources provided the videos to Paterson Press.
Paterson police spokesman Rob Rowan said the SUV was heading north on Main Street, near Madison Avenue, when the crash occurred.
One of the videos showed a taxi come to a stop — probably for a red light — in the left northbound lane of Main Street. The SUV veered into the southbound lane at almost the same time a vehicle was turning left from Madison to go south on Main.
The SUV swerved onto the sidewalk, sideswiping a metal street trash can, sending it flying into a gas station attendant, who was injured.
The name of the pedestrian who was killed — who had a full grey beard — has not been made public.
Paterson Councilman Luis Velez happened to be driving through the area shortly after the crash. He said witnesses he spoke with told him that the SUV was driving a high rate of speed. That was also clear on the videos.
Police said the driver of the SUV also needed medical treatment at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center. The cause of the crash — which happened near the intersection with Madison Avenue — remains under investigation, police said.
