4-CAR COLLISION SHUTS ROUTE 208

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Friday, September 14, 1990

The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star | NEWS | Page B03

Two motorists were hospitalized and a section of Route 208 in Franklin Lakes was closed for more than four hours Thursday morning after a rush-hour accident.

Police said a rear-end collision between two cars in a northbound lane sent one of the cars careening into two vehicles in the southbound lanes.

Franklin Lakes traffic officer William Colligan said the accident occurred at about 7:15 a.m. He described the scene as a “mess.”

“Route 208 is a major highway and it occurred at rush hour, so you can imagine how backed up traffic was,” Colligan said. “But we had sufficient police to divert the traffic to county roads” and get motorists “to where they wanted to go.”

Three of the four drivers were injured, and two were hospitalized.

Carl Bayer, 47, of Ringwood suffered multiple fractures and was in stable condition at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, and Frank Miller, 22, of Dumont was in good condition at Hackensack Medical Center with minor injuries.

A 26-year-old woman police did not identify was treated at The Valley Hospital and released. The fourth motorist, George Frey, 34, of Hewitt, was not hurt.

Authorities said the woman was driving a Chevette that struck Miller’s Lincoln Continental as it was traveling north near Ewing Avenue.

The Lincoln went across the grassy median, struck Bayer’s Ford Thunderbird, spun around, and was struck by Frey’s Chevrolet Blazer.

Colligan said Route 208 around the Ewing Avenue exit was closed to traffic until 11:30 a.m. so investigators could gather evidence.

Two police officers from Oakland, three from Wyckoff, and members of the Bergen County Police Department helped divert traffic.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the county police, and the Franklin Lakes detective bureau are investigating.

Colligan said that although investigations were still at a preliminary stage, he did not expect criminal charges or summonses to be issued.

Caption: PHOTO – PETER MONSEES / THE RECORD – Wreckage blocking the southbound lanes of Route 208 in Franklin Lakes on Thursday. Three of the four drivers involved were injured.

CABBY NABS HIT-AND-RUN SUSPECT; TRAPS CAR HE SAW STRIKE PEDESTRIAN

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

2 CHARGED IN CITY BURGLARIES

By MICHAEL O. ALLEN | Friday, September 7, 1990

The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page A01

Two homeless men were charged with three city burglaries after police caught one of them after he emerged from a second-floor window with stolen money, police said.

Pedro Cordeiro, 20, and Frank Hidalgo, 22, were to be sent to the Bergen County Jail on Thursday on $2,500 bail.

Cordeiro was caught stepping onto a ladder after emerging from the window of a Hudson Street home. He was found with $154.90 allegedly stolen from the residence. Officers Richard Melber and Vincent Pedone had come to the home after receiving a call about a suspicious person about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Cordeiro’s alleged accomplice, Hidalgo, fled when he saw the officers. They captured him about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

The men admitted stealing a 21-inch color television from a Lodi Street home last week and $50 and an unknown quantity of cigarettes from a Hudson Street store two weeks ago, said Capt. Emil Canestrino.

The two were charged with burglary and theft.