Witness recalls fatal Pleasantville bus crash
PLEASANTVILLE — A 38-year-old city woman was still clutching money when she was struck and killed by a New Jersey Transit bus Wednesday night, a witness said Thursday.
“It was terrible to see. I went back there to see if someone was alive, and she was already dead. It’s the first time I ever looked into the eyes of a dead body,” said Andrew Brosky, a passenger on the bus who tried to assist the woman.
Police said at 6:36 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to Franklin Boulevard and West Jersey Avenue for a report of a pedestrian motor vehicle crash involving a NJ Transit bus.
When officers arrived, they found Rosalyn Quinones, 38, of Pleasantville, lying in the road.
The South Jersey Regional Medical Examiner’s Office pronounced Quinones dead at the scene, police said.
Brosky said he caught the 6:04 p.m. bus in Atlantic City and was on his way to his home in Ocean City.
Pleasantville woman dies after being struck by bus
The weather was terrible and the rain was heavy, Brosky said.
“We got off Black Horse Pike and made a right on Franklin Avenue and then we were turning left on to West Jersey Avenue and, at that time of the turn, we ran over something,” he said.
“We saw her hit the front of the bus and then felt it hit the back,” he said.
As the driver picked up the phone to call in the accident, he said he told him to open the doors so he could get out and check the victim.
“I could see the driver became so panicked and distraught. He was shaky. He couldn’t speak. He was so sorry and remorseful,” he said.
When Brosky ran around to the back of the bus, he could see Quinones was not breathing.
She appeared to be dead, he said.
“It looked like she must have been trying to cross West Jersey Avenue. She still had her money clenched in her hand,” he said.
Brosky said the passengers on the bus were let off after police arrived and witnesses stayed for several hours to be interviewed.
“I was still there when her family arrived ... people screaming and crying, dropping to the ground yelling ‘why, why, why?’” he said.
No other injuries were reported, police said.
The crash is under investigation by Lt. Emory Silipigni and Detective Miguel Lugo in conjunction with NJ Transit police.
Anyone who witnessed the crash can call Pleasantville police at 609-484-3645.
Assisting at the scene were Tricare Medical Transport, AtlantiCare Paramedics, the Pleasantville Fire Department and NJ Transit personnel.
Contact: 609-513-6686
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