In cop's death, driver cites oldest excuse in the book

Bergen County residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation, but they are stuck with an antiquated street system, including Teaneck's Cedar Lane, above, one of many in the township with a limited number of turn lanes, frustrating motorists and wasting precious gasoline. On Hackensack's River Street, drivers routinely cut each other off to avoid waiting behind a turning vehicle.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

The Record's front-page account today of how Special Police Officer Stephen Petruzzello died contains a fundamental conflict that ultimately may be resolved in court.

Ani Kalayjian, 62, the Cliffside Park driver charged in his death, claims she "didn't see" Petruzzello, 22, and a second officer she knocked down with her Honda CR-V as they were crossing Walker Street in darkness around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday (A-6).

That's the oldest excuse in the book. But there is more.

"They were wearing black uniforms with no reflective stripes," Kalayjian told an unnamed television station, The Record says.

But a major conflict arises because a borough spokesman said the uniforms worn by special police officers "have reflective stripes on the collars, sleeves and coats" (A-6).

Not only that. 

Kalayjian, who describes herself as an "international expert on the psychological effects of trauma in disaster victims," was charged with reckless driving, careless driving and failure to yield to pedestrians or wear a seat belt.

The police chief is quoted as saying drug or alcohol use is not suspected, but he didn't address whether Kalayjian was speeding.

Unanswered questions

According to Kalayjian's Web site, her first name is spelled "Ani," not "Anie," as The Record reports.

The Woodland Park daily today finally told readers there is no crosswalk where the officers were struck, but doesn't say whether the street is well-lighted, and has reflective striping or reflectors that might have prevented what happened. 

Nor are authorities quoted on whether they might charge Kalayjian with vehicular homicide in the officer's death early Monday morning, about 36 hours after he was thrown 25 feet and sustained a severe brain injury.

More A-1 sports

Editor Martin Gottlieb again squanders precious A-1 space on another stupid sports column.

If the piece was about Woody Herman or Woody Allen or even morning wood, it might be of interest to the majority of older readers; as it is, most are saying, "Woody Who?"

Port Atrocity

And Gottlieb continues to scramble to catch up to the Saturday night massacre perpetrated by Governors Christie and Cuomo, who vetoed a landmark Port Authority reform package passed by their state Legislatures.

The governors released word of the vetoes on Saturday night, firm in the knowledge that incompetent weekend staffs, such as the one at The Record, would completely flub the story.

Indeed, the banner headline on The Sunday Record's front page declared lamely:

"Governors unveil their PA plan"

News reports today say the governors are proposing to cut overnight PATH service, but The Record makes no mention of that and doesn't even bother asking commuters what they think.

On Sunday, The Record reported Christie and Cuomo are proposing a property sale to allow the Port Authority to replace its antiquated midtown Manhattan bus terminal.

But that hasn't been mentioned in the paper's coverage today or Monday, and no one has bothered to ask NJ Transit bus riders for comment.

Finally, WNYC-FM today reported the governors deliberately released their veto messages between Christmas and Jan. 1, knowing their Legislatures couldn't possibly attempt an override during the holidays.