By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Thursday, September 13, 1990
The Record (New Jersey) | Two Star | NEWS | Page A01
A cabby who witnessed a hit-and-run accident that injured an elderly pedestrian Wednesday pursued the fleeing driver and repeatedly tried to talk him into returning to the scene.
But Peter Byrne of Ridgefield Park, who works for Mr. Taxi Yellow Cab Co. of Hackensack, said the youth kept pulling away, so he continued to follow him.
Finally, at Harvey Avenue in Rochelle Park, he bumped the youth into a corner driveway and blocked him off as a state police cruiser that also was involved in the chase pulled up. A 17-year-old Hackensack youth, whom authorities declined to identify because of his age, was arrested.
Byrne said he had just dropped off passengers at about 1:40 p.m. when he saw the youth’s car strike Arthur Dehardt Jr. as he crossed West Passaic Street in Rochelle Park. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said the youth ran a red light at the intersection.
Dehardt, 77, of Rochelle Park, was taken to Hackensack Medical Center with head and rib injuries and was in stable condition Wednesday, authorities said.
“The driver pulled up on the sidewalk, looked at him, and then took off,” Byrne said. “I thought he was going to stop. Then when he pulled away I pulled up next to him and said, `Hey, where you going? You just hit the man. But he just took off. So I made a U-turn and just went after him. “
Byrne, 46, who started working for Mr. Taxi 11 months ago after 25 years as an offset printer, said he kept after the youth, trying unsuccessfully to get him to go back.
After chasing him for about a mile, and jumping out at red lights to urge him to return to the scene, Byrne said he bumped the rear of the youth’s station wagon and forced him into the driveway.
The youth was charged with driving without a license, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, and disregarding a traffic signal. He was driving his mother’s car, authorities said.
Rochelle Park Police Chief William Betten called Byrne a hero.
“We are extremely pleased with the efforts and cooperation [of Byrne] because it was his effort that resulted in the arrest of this hit-and-run driver,” Betten said. “He deserves all the credit he can get. “
Byrne said he did not consider himself a hero.
“I feel like I’ve just done something that anybody would do,” said the cabby.
Caption: PHOTO – PETER BYRNE, Shuns hero label
ID: 17315853 | Copyright © 1990, The Record (New Jersey)
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