Hawthorne, NJ (September 4, 2026) – Two people were seriously hurt in a head-on collision between a landscaping truck and a large SUV at the intersection of Lafayette and Van Winkle avenues on Thursday morning, September 3.
The wreck happened around 8:35 a.m. when a Ford F-550 owned by a Teaneck landscaping company collided with a Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Airbags deployed in both vehicles on impact.
The two seriously injured occupants were taken to a Paterson hospital, while three others at the scene were evaluated by EMS. Hawthorne Firefighters placed booms to prevent fuel from reaching a nearby sewer, and both damaged vehicles were later towed from the scene.
The cause of the collision remains under review.
We're keeping the injured in our thoughts as they begin their recovery.
When a company-owned vehicle is involved in a head-on collision, liability can extend to the business itself under a legal principle known as vicarious liability, which holds an employer responsible for an employee's actions performed within the scope of their job.
Head-on collisions tend to produce more severe injuries than other crash types because of the combined speed of both vehicles at impact, typically resulting in traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and multiple fractures that require extensive surgery and rehabilitation.
New Jersey allows an injured person to pursue a claim against both the driver and the driver's employer when the vehicle was being used for work purposes at the time of the crash.
In such cases, a personal injury lawyer can help determine whether the truck was operating within the scope of company business. Establishing this connection can involve the review of company records, driver logs, and the nature of the trip being made when the collision occurred.
If you or someone you know was hurt in a crash involving a commercial vehicle in New Jersey, our team at the Law Offices of Sander Budanitsky can help you understand your options.
We can review the details of your case and walk you through the available legal paths. Contact our personal injury lawyers at (908) 241-3445 to learn more.
Note: This post has been prepared using publicly available secondary sources. The facts surrounding the incident have not been independently confirmed. If you believe any portion of this report contains inaccurate or outdated information, please contact The Law Offices of Sander Budanitsky, L.L.C. so we can promptly review and update the content to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this post is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or medical advice. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor does it constitute a request for legal representation. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please seek immediate medical care.
Any images included in this post are for illustrative purposes only and do not depict the actual accident scene.
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