NEWARK, NJ – In a dangerous incident on Wednesday morning, two art teachers sustained injuries in a vehicular crash right outside Arts High School. The accident took place at around 10:30 a.m. on Martin Luther King Boulevard during a professional development day for educators.
Eyewitnesses reported that a gray van ran a stop sign at Mercer Street, collided with a white Hyundai, and veered off the road onto a populated sidewalk, injuring one pedestrian before crashing into another individual who was sitting on an adjacent ledge.
The victims, both art teachers from East Ward Elementary, were identified as critically injured, with one currently in surgery.
Public school students observed the day off for staff development, although few remained on campus, focusing on extra credit work.
Authorities confirmed that both drivers involved in the mishap were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The ongoing investigation by Newark police and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office seeks to determine the exact cause of the crash.
This accident is a somber reminder of antecedent dangers experienced in this vicinity. Notably, last year, an Arts High School cheerleader faced critical injuries after a driver bypassed her school bus, raising alarms on vehicular safety.