Newton Police

A pedestrian was stuck by a car on High Street near its intersection with West End Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 7:51 p.m. Newton police responded to the call and found Pamela Burkart, 36 of Newton, was walking in a southerly direction on the right side of High Street on the sidewalk. A witness described Burkart as staggering as she walked. At one point she stumbled or tripped and stepped into the roadway of High Street as a vehicle being operated by Michele McMillan, 31 of Blairstown, was headed south on Route 94. Burkart collided with the passenger side of McMillan’s vehicle, a Dodge Caravan carrying five juvenile passengers from Blair Academy in Blairstown. Burkart’s right hand was fractured and she suffered bruising to her left arm and her head. She was flown to Morristown Hospital by Northstar Helicopter as a precaution where she received treatment for her injuries and was released shortly afterward. Further investigation revealed that Burkart was walking to her apartment on High Street when the accident occurred, after having spent an unknown period of time at another location in Newton where she had consumed several alcoholic beverages. The Dodge Caravan sustained minor damage to the windshield and the passenger side mirror. None of the Caravan’s occupants were reported to be injured. Burkart was issued a summons for recklessly obstructing a highway, a petty disorderly persons offense.