Woman Fatally Struck by Vehicle Early Tuesday on Franklin Avenue
July 01, 2025 | Belleville, NJ
A 26-year-old local woman, Eliana N. Ambrosino, tragically died following a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash early Tuesday morning in Belleville, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
The incident occurred around 12:15 a.m. on Franklin Avenue near Belleville Avenue. Authorities say Ambrosino was walking along the roadway when she was struck by a vehicle. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Eliana Ambrosino sustained fatal injuries early Tuesday morning after being struck by a vehicle on Franklin Avenue in Belleville.
The driver initially fled the scene but returned shortly after. The crash remains under active investigation by local authorities.
FATAL PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
Despite protections under state and federal laws, pedestrians remain the most vulnerable users of roadways. Each day, individuals are seriously injured or killed by drivers who are distracted, impaired, or simply negligent.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. have surged faster than all other traffic-related deaths. In 2021, an estimated 7,342 pedestrians lost their lives—a 13 percent increase from the previous year.
“Generally, driver negligence is to blame for most pedestrian accidents,” said Andrew G. Finkelstein, Managing Partner at Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices. “Whether it’s distraction from a cell phone, speeding, or failing to yield, these accidents result in catastrophic injuries or death.”
Finkelstein emphasized the need for thorough and prompt investigation by a skilled legal team. “It is essential to reconstruct the accident to identify all vehicles involved and determine the conditions that led to the crash. This process ensures the rights of the victim’s family are protected and that accountability is pursued.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the outcome of the investigation, the family of Eliana Ambrosino may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim. In cases involving pedestrian fatalities, surviving family members can seek compensation for loss of companionship, emotional distress, and pain and suffering resulting from the tragic loss of a loved one.
“People who get into accidents such as this suffer unimaginable consequences in the form of mental and physical pain, and, in fatal cases, the victim’s family and loved ones are left devastated,” said Andrew G. Finkelstein, Managing Partner at Jacoby & Meyers and a national legal analyst for Newsline.
Finkelstein cautioned families to be wary of insurance company tactics that may attempt to shift blame to the victim. “As a pedestrian accident victim—or in the case of a fatality, their family—you will most likely face insurance representatives who try to assign partial or full fault to reduce their payout,” he explained. “You should never give a statement directly to the insurance company. The best course of action is to hire an experienced pedestrian accident attorney, one with the resources to stand up to insurers and advocate for justice on behalf of the victim.”
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Newsline''s national legal analyst Andrew G. Finkelstein has extensive experience with fatal pedestrian accidents. If you or a loved one need support, he’s available for a free consultation to help guide you.
(Andrew G. Finkelstein, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices to help you, please call 855-976-8163 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).