Monday's Accident

Yesterday I decided to try gathering information for a news story on the accident Monday that severely injured a PMUA worker. I did get responses from Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig and PMUA Executive Director Duane Young, but by the time I got the official press release, Mark Spivey already had a comprehensive news story online.

It just pointed up to me the reasons why I do not usually try to replicate what would normally be the work of the daily newspaper. My concern had been the lack of a news story several days after Dan wrote anecdotally about coming upon the scene Monday morning. It turned out that the investigation was not yet at the point of an official news release from the authorities until Thursday and the investigation is continuing.

While police continue to probe exactly what happened early Monday morning, Duane Young told Plaintalker the authority is rallying around Robert Morris, the employee who was pinned between the car and PMUA truck, resulting in severe damage to both legs and amputation of one. Young said Morris, 58,  was an "old-timer" and a hard worker who didn't mind any assignment.

"That's why he was out there on Christmas. We respect that," Young said.

Young said he was with the Morris family at the 10-year PMUA veteran's bedside when he came out of surgery at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital.

"We're family here," Young said of the PMUA. "We try to support each other."

The authority will provide Morris with "the moral support and financial support he is entitled to," Young said, noting in addition PMUA has already taken up voluntary contributions from staff.

The early-morning pickup Monday was part of an effort to keep the downtown clean over the holiday. Morris was struck by a 1999 Mercury Cougar, from which the driver fled, leaving the vehicle at the scene, police said. Hellwig said a conflict in a passenger's account of what happened "is causing this to be a lengthy investigation."

The press release issued Thursday stated, "This investigation is actively being investigated by the Plainfield Police Department Traffic Unit. Anyone, who may have witnessed this crash incident, can contact Sgt. Wayne William at (908) 753-3044 or (908) 753-3360."

--Bernice
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