BRIDGETON, N.J. -
We're learning much more information about the death of a woman whose body was found on a Cumberland County road.
Police are trying to determine what New Jersey Transit may have had to do with the incident.
According to police, it was about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when they got the call that somebody found the woman dead on McCormick Place, between Orange and Bank streets in Bridgeton. SkyFOX flew over the scene in Bridgeton later in the night as police investigated at the scene.
On Thursday morning, police identified the victim as Bernadette Montgomery, 54, of New Castle, Del.
Police say she was about 30 feet from the bus stop when she was hit. It is unclear if she was hit by a bus or another vehicle, but police confirm that they have interviewed two New Jersey Transit bus drivers, who were working that route during the time of the accident.
The woman had no ID on her, which is why it has taken police a little while to identify who she was.
So, was this person hit getting on or off the bus by another vehicle or by the bus? The exact chain of events remains unclear.
"Through the investigation last night, we were able to
utilize items that were found on the victim's body, in particular her cell
phone, and were able to identify her," Police Capt. Michael Gaimari said.
"We still don't know what happened prior to. We don't know if the woman
was struck, if the woman fell, or if there was another contributing factor at
this point. It's all part of the investigation."
Gaimari added, "This happened at a very busy time of
the day at 6:30. It's a highly-traveled area. People may have seen, may have
observed something they really don't think it is important, but it may be
important to us. So, if they saw the woman there – she's an African-American
female, … she's 54-years-old, if anybody saw her or, obviously, saw what
happened, it is important that they step forward so we can clear the case up as
quickly as possible."
Police
do have surveillance video from nearby businesses. However, they say the video
does not show the accident. It only shows the traffic and cars moving through
the area.
An autopsy to determine exactly how Montgomery died will be
performed later on Thursday.
FOX 29's Stacey Stauffer reported the latest details Thursday morning from Bridgeton police headquarters.
