Father, young son hit by car while crossing Bayonne street

BAYONNE, New Jersey (WABC) -- It was a horrible accident which Luis Vasquez will never forget.

A young boy and his father were taken to the hospital after they were struck by an oncoming car while crossing the street in Bayonne, police say. The 36-year-old father and his 5-year-old son were crossing Avenue C & West 36 Street when they were struck by a car going southbound, shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday.

Vasquez says he stopped to help direct traffic away from the victims until an ambulance could arrive. The driver that hit the father and son stayed at the scene.

"It was like a black shadow crossing the street. Hard to see - they cross right in the middle of the street," Vasquez said.

As accident investigators gather evidence, Vasquez insists the driver was was not speeding.

"He was going 22 mph. I was able to stop close over to the right side, and stop traffic," he adds.

The young boy suffered an open skull fracture, and is listed in serious condition. His father has multiple broken bones. Both are expected to survive.

Dr. Vincent Serafino was headed to his medical office right by the accident scene and tells Eyewitness News that he would have offered to help if he arrived earlier.

"There's no traffic light on this corner. Each street has its own light, this one doesn't," Dr. Serafino said.

Police do not know if the father and son were residents of Bayonne, or were just visiting friends in the area.

The car that struck them remained on the scene, and the driver is cooperating with police. Police are still investigating what happened.