Man Walking On Road Hit, Killed By Car In Franklin

FRANKLIN, NJ — A pedestrian walking in Franklin Township was fatally hit by a car after the driver suffered a medical emergency behind the wheel on Wednesday, police say.

On Wednesday at around 5:40 p.m., a 40-year-old Franklin Township resident was driving a a 2010 Toyota Corolla south on South Middlebush near Old Vliet Road when they suffered a medical emergency, said Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson.

The car then hit Harishbha Patel, 38, of Franklin Park, who was walking on the shoulder of the roadway, said Robertson.

Franklin Police found Patel unconscious and unresponsive on the roadway. Officers began measures to try and save his life, said Robertson.

Patel was then taken to a local area trauma center where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the car was also taken to a local area hospital for treatment.

No charges have been filed at this time.

The factors that contributed to the crash are currently under investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team and the Franklin Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Bureau.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Officer Jose Jaime of the Franklin Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Bureau at 732-873-5533 extension 3143 or jose.jaime@franklinnj.gov.

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