SHARE

Woman Killed On Route 17 In Wood-Ridge Spoke To Driver Moments Earlier

WOOD-RIDGE, N.J. -- A 49-year-old woman struck and killed Friday night on Route 17 in Wood-Ridge spoke with the driver barely 20 minutes earlier, authorities told Daily Voice early Monday evening.

The woman was struck in the middle of the highway, police said.

The woman was struck in the middle of the highway, police said.

Photo Credit: GoogleMaps

Debbie Evans, who lived on Terrace Avenue in Hasbrouck Heights, approached the 19-year-old and his friends a short time before midnight in the White Castle just off the highway, where they'd gone to eat after a high school football game.

"She asked them if she could use a cellphone," Detective Matthew Mueller told Daily Voice.

They refused and she left about five minutes later, he said Monday.

Fifteen or so minutes after that, the 5-foot-2, 100-pound Evans climbed over the highway divider coming from the area of the VIP Car Wash and walked into the path of the young driver's southbound Toyota SUV.

"It's not a well-lit stretch of highway," Mueller said. "She was struck in the middle lane near the Wendy's driveway."

First responders conducted CPR, but Evans died on the highway. She was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center.

Mueller positively identified her after finding her husband.

No charges were filed or summonses issued against the distraught driver, who investigators said was driving below the speed limit.

to follow Daily Voice Cresskill-Closter and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE