Female pedestrian hit by car, loses leg

TRENTON » A quick-thinking patrol officer may have saved a woman’s life after her leg was severed during a motor vehicle crash Sunday evening.

Officer James Bruins applied a tourniquet to the woman’s leg after she and two other male pedestrians were pinned against a wall by a vehicle.

“If he hadn’t done that, she may have died,” Lt. Darren Zappley said. “He stopped the bleeding.”

Officials say the victims were on the sidewalk at the corner of Franklin and Liberty streets around 5:20 p.m. when a motorist jumped the curb and slammed into the trio, temporarily pinning them against the brick exterior of a Chinese restaurant.

Police believe the driver suffered a medical condition, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.

“At this time, there is no suspicion of intoxication and the driver is not under arrest,” Zappley said.

In addition to a severed left leg, the 31-year-old female suffered internal injuries and remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Her 31-year-old boyfriend suffered a broken hip and four compound fractures to his left leg. He also remains in the hospital in critical condition.

A 51-year-old man suffered a broken leg and internal abdominal injuries, according to police who say he is in stable condition.

The crash remains under investigation.