Crime & Safety

Police Still Trying to Figure Out Whether Vehicle Was Involved in Last Tuesday's Bike Accident

Police able talk to injured cyclist a week after accident; says she's unsure if she was struck by vehicle.

A bicyclist who suffered extensive head and face injuries in an accident on West Oak Street shortly after 8 a.m. last Tuesday, Aug. 31, now has told police she is unsure whether she was struck by a vehicle at that time.

Police said they were able on Monday, Sept. 6, to finally speak with the accident victim, Laura Lema, 34, of Bernards Avenue in Bernardsville. Lema has remained at Morristown Memorial Hospital since the accident, but was heavily sedated through the end of last week because of the extent of her injuries, according to police.

Initially, police and hospital officials believed that Lema had indicated she had been struck by an unidentified vehicle before she was found at about 8:16 a.m. on Aug. 16. Lema had been discovered by a passerby, who did not witness the accident, as she lay on the sidewalk along West Oak Street near the Mt. Airy Road intersection, police said. A red mountain bike was at her side, and she was near a telephone pole, police said. 

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Police said that last Friday, Sept. 3, they were notified by the hospital that Lema had regained consciousness. However, she was still heavily medicated at that time, and detectives were unable to speak with her before Monday.

"She told the detectives that she had no specific recollection of the accident," according to a report from Lt. Ted Reese. "The only thing she could remember is that she was riding her bike on West Oak and she was on her way to work at a hair salon in Basking Ridge." Lema said Monday she did not remember telling hospital personnel that she was hit by a vehicle, but believes that she was struck due to the extent of her injuries, the police report said.

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Police have placed an electronic message board by the scene of the accident asking potential witnesses to call Det. Tim King at the township police department, 908-766-1122.

Police said they had interviewed several people who either live on West Oak Street. near the accident site, or who travel along the street on a daily basis. "We have not been able to develop any independent evidence that suggests that a vehicle was involved," Reese. Reese said police still are hopeful that witnesses who had seen the accident occur may come forward.

The report described Lema recovering from her injuries.

Police said Lema was wearing a black T-shirt, black spandex pants and carrying a yellow purse at the time of the accident.

 


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