Elderly Fort Lee Pedestrian Struck By Bus Dies From Injuries

The elderly Fort Lee woman who was struck by a bus Friday on Main St. has died from wounds sustained in the crash, officials said Saturday.

But it appears she was not crossing the street at the time of the accident but rather walking alongside the bus in front of the senior building at 457 Main St., officials said.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's office said the accident occurred at about  9 a.m. Friday near the intersection of Main and John streets, where 91-year-old Soon Yae Kim of Fort Lee was struck by Coach USA bus #1247 driven by Edward Johnson, 38.

Kim was transported to HUMC in critical condition with internal injuries and injuries to her back, face and left arm, according to the prosecutor's office.

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich said he was informed of Kim's death late last night.

"It's a very sad story," he said.

According to the infomation Sokolich received, Kim was walking alongside a double-decker Academy bus with no intention of boarding the bus, when it began pulling away.

"She apparently was either leaning on it or near it somewhat when it made a slight turn ... and it knocked her over," Sokolich said. "They're not sure if the bus ran her over. They don’t think so, but she was old. She fell, and that’s bad."

Authorities said the bus was on its way from Fort Lee to Bergen Community College and continued heading west on its usual route along Main Street after the incident.

An NJ Transit bus was driving behind that bus, saw the accident unfold and reported it to the police, who were able to track down the driver. Johnson told Fort Lee police he wasn’t aware the accident occurred.

The prosecutor's office said no charges have been filed and that it is not being classified as a criminal investigation, but rather an accident investigation.

"This is an ongoing police investigation, and I would rather not comment [specifically] on that,” Sokolich said. “But it doesn’t sound to be like it was an intentional hit and run.”

Fort Lee police say no further information is currently available as they continue their investigation. An NJ Transit bus was observed stopped at the scene of the crash Friday, and what appeared to be a purse, a cane and other personal effects were scattered in the road in front of the bus.