Two cars collide into North Arlington building

Photos and story by Diane Tilley

NORTH ARLINGTON – North Arlington Fire Department responded to a two-car collision Monday afternoon, Sept. 9, after an SUV and a Minivan collided at the corner of Harding Street and Morgan Place. Both vehicles jumped the curb with the minivan striking a road sign before crashing into the window of the ground level apartment of Gina Neri, who resides at 55 Morgan Place.
Mrs. Neri, who was home when the accident occurred, said the minivan struck the bedroom window of her nine-year-old son, who was in school at the time. The window’s frame was destroyed. Glass and debris was scattered over her son’s bed and entire room.
“Thank God he was at school. His bed is right under that window,” Mrs. Neri said.
As a long-time resident of the building, Mrs. Neri has witnessed countless accidents at this same corner. “People fly down these streets, we need a four-way stop sign here, I always told my husband some day a car‘s going to come right thru the building, and now look,” she said.
The North Arlington Fire Department extricated the two unidentified drivers, a man and a woman who were transported to Clara Maass Hospital for minor injuries. Firefighters removed the remaining glass and damaged window frames before the windows were boarded up and secured. North Arlington Fire Department Chief Robert Kairys notified Building Inspector Anthony Collito. Collito inspected the building and declared it and the apartment safe for occupation.