Ho-Ho-Kus Truck Accident Injures Two, Stops Traffic

All Practice Areas

A commercial truck driver delivering refrigerators lost control of his box truck on Tuesday morning, August 3, and crashed into a bus stop in Ho-Ho-Kus, severely injuring two pedestrians. The truck accident occurred shortly before 7 a.m., on Route 17. Jose L. Vences, of South Fallsberg, New York, was driving southbound near Hollywood Avenue when he lost control of his vehicle and ran into two pedestrians, Mary Jo McDonough and John Schnell. McDonough and Schnell were both taken to Hackensack University Medical Center. Hospital officials state that, while they are expected to recover, both parties sustained serious injuries. McDonough required surgery to partially amputate one of her legs, and Schnell had significant injuries to his legs. Neither Vences nor a passenger in his truck was injured. The investigation of the accident is ongoing. Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Martin Delaney stated that Vences "was going a normal speed and there is no indication of reckless driving." Crash investigators are taking a close look at the truck, which Delaney states may have had a problem that caused a mechanical failure resulting in Vences losing control. The accident had a significant adverse effect on morning traffic, as the investigation took considerable time to conduct. Rush-hour commuters were stalled, and a portion of Route 17 was closed to drivers, including the Hollywood Avenue entrance ramp. Until 10 a.m., drivers had to detour through downtown Ho-Ho-Kus in order to return to Route 17. Related Resource: NorthJersey.com "Two injured after truck hits Ho-Ho-Kus bus stop" August 3, 2010