Harriet Rector, 88, was taken to University Medical Center at Princeton after she ran the red light at Station Road and Route 130 causing her to collide with another vehicle, police said.
By: Jessica Beym
An 88-year-old Monroe woman was taken to University Medical Center at Princeton Sunday after she ran a red light and collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Station Road and Route 130, Police Chief Jay Hansen said Tuesday.
Harriet Rector was traveling west on Station Road in her 2000 Acura at about 7:50 a.m. when she stopped at the red light at Route 130, Chief Hansen said. Before the light turned green, Ms. Rector attempted to cross the intersection and was struck broadside on the driver’s side of her car by a northbound 2004 Honda Odyssey driven by 41-year-old Kathryn Pappas of Robbinsville, Chief Hansen said.
Ms. Rector later told police that she thought the light may have been broken because it was taking too long to change, Chief Hansen said.
The force of the accident pushed the vehicles through the intersection and Ms. Rector’s vehicle struck the traffic light post in the center median of Route 130, knocking it down, he said.
The Cranbury Fire Department reported to the scene and extricated Ms. Rector from her vehicle. Chief Hansen said Ms. Pappas was not injured.
Ms. Rector was transported by the Cranbury First Aid Squad to University Medical Center for treatment, Chief Hansen said.
A hospital spokeswoman said Thursday that Ms. Rector was still being treated, but would not comment on her condition.
Ms. Rector was cited for failure to obey a traffic signal, Chief Hansen said. Traffic was stopped for about an hour-and-a-half until the state Department of Transportation arrived to clear the light post from the intersection, he said.