Speeding Car Goes Airborne, Strikes Three Homes on Paterson Road

A speeding car hit the lawn of a home on the corner of Paterson Road and Hunter Avenue, launching it up a hill, airborne and over a driveway with two vehicles before striking another home and overturning when it struck a third home Friday morning in Fanwood.

Witnesses estimated the car, a BMW sedan, was traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour.

"He was going eastbound on Paterson Road, went up a hill on the lawn of the house on the corner of Paterson and Hunter Avenue, which launched him up and nearly over two parked cars, including a truck, in the driveway," Fanwood Police Chief Richard Trigo said. "He then slid across the lawn at the next house, 148 Paterson, before overturning, striking and stopping on the lawn of the final home at 152."

Trigo said the driver, a 47-year-old Plainfield man, was extricated and in and out of consciousness, but incredibly didn't appear to have any major visible injuries. No one else was injured and the residents of the third home were not home at the time of the crash. The Fanwood Fire Department removed the man using the jaws of life and he was taken to Robert Wood Johnson hospital.

Police are investigating how fast the car, a black BMW sedan, was traveling to have propelled it so far, and whether the driver was dealing with a medical issue.

Two eyewitnesses told Patch they believe the car was speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour. 

"It was the fastest vehicle I have ever seen in person," said Kathy Porter, who was reading a book and just thinking about how nice the day was on the porch of her home on Hunter Avenue. "It had to be going over 100 miles per hour. It came screaming through the intersection, hit the top of the first car and then went airborne. It was horrifying to watch. He was going so fast I expected to see police cars chasing behind, but there were none."

"His speed was incredible," said Cheryl Horgan, who was walking her dog down Paterson Road with her son Eli when the car came speeding past them. "I've never seen a car go that fast. I very clearly saw the man's face because his window was open. His eyes were wide open, focused on the road in front of him and he had both hands on the wheel. It looked like he was driving purposefully, with the intent to go as fast as he could. There are so many kids in this neighborhood and we are so fortunate no one was in his way, because he would have flattened anyone in his path."

Horgan also assumed the driver was being chased. 

"I just don't know why a person would be speeding that fast," she said. "He was clearly going to lose control. The crash sounded so loud, like a building collapsing." 

Lisa Voelker who lives adjacent to the first home struck, said the crash was so loud she thought it must have been a bigger vehicle with a trailer—a landscaping truck out of control, she thought at first.

"I was in my driveway and heard squealing, bumping around and then bam," Voelker said. "From what I can tell, the car never attempted to stop. I've lived here since 1986 and I've never seen anything like this." 
 
Fanwood Police, the Fanwood Fire Department, the Fanwood Rescue Squad and Plainfield Fire Department were on the scene.