Car Pins Woman Against Truck in Ventnor

From the Atlantic City Press Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008

By ELAINE ROSE Staff Writer, 609-272-7215

VENTNOR - A local woman suffered serious injuries Tuesday morning when she was pinned between a car and a truck on Atlantic Avenue, police said.
Sumi Bharoocha, 39, was walking between two vehicles in the 7200 block of Ventnor Avenue at 11:36 a.m. when a car driven by Neil Lansman, 62, of Rydal, Pa., lurched forward and slammed her into a delivery truck parked in front of him, said Lt. Michael Miller.

Bharoocha was conscious and in a lot of pain when firefighters arrived at the scene to prepare her to be taken to the hospital, said fire Capt. Andrew Lacovara. The victim suffered severe trauma to her legs and also to her lower torso, officials said.

Bharoocha was taken to the Trauma Unit at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, where she was in critical condition, Lacovara said.

The cause of the accident is under investigation, Miller said. There is no indication that Lansman was intoxicated or using a cell phone when the incident occurred, he said.

The accident is similar to one that took place in the city on July 24, 2007, when Allen Henry Miller, 30, of Schenectady, N.Y., was allegedly driving drunk when his car struck postal worker Maureen DePrince and pinned her to her mail truck. DePrince lost her sight both legs as a result of that accident.
Miller was indicted last summer on charges of assault by auto, leaving the scene of an accident that caused severe bodily injury and aggravated assault. He is awaiting trial