Bicyclist, 36, was on his way to work
By: Michael Arges
Jose Cruz, a resident of Windsor Castle Apartments in East Windsor, was killed about 6:30 a.m. today, June 7, when he was struck by a car while riding a bicycle to work.
Mr. Cruz, 36, was riding south along the shoulder of Route 130 south near the border between East Windsor and Washington Township when he was struck by a 1990 Infiniti driven by an East Brunswick resident, according to Washington Township police.
Mr. Cruz was pronounced dead at the scene after Washington Township emergency personnel and Hightstown First Aid squads responded, police said.
Mr. Cruz was trying to cross Route 130 between Voebel Road and North Main Street when he was struck by an automobile, said Patrolman Frank Caputo, a traffic safety officer with the Washington Township policeforce.
The diver of the car, Om Khosla of East Brunswick, was driving south on Route 130 when Mr. Cruz attempted to cross from the shoulder of the southbound lanes to the northbound lanes. Mr. Khosla’s right front fender struck the bicycle and rider, police said.
There was no evidence of driver error and there have been no charges filed against Mr. Khosla, Patrolman Caputo said. Mr. Khosla made a formal statement at the Washington Township Police Headquarters.
“I don’t believe speed was a factor in the accident,” said Patrolman Caputo.
Mr. Cruz had worked for I.P.S. for almost two years and was a landscaper for the Voelbel Road firm. Mr. Cruz had a wife and four children in Guatemala, where he planned to return when his work visa expired, said Karen Williston, his supervisor at I.P.S.
“I liked him a lot; he was a good employee,” Ms. Williston said.
Mr. Cruz has a brother in the area who identified him at the accident scene, Patrolman Caputo said. Mr. Cruz’s body was transported to the Mercer County Medical Examiner in Ewing, police said. No funeral information was available.