Pedestrian, 78, dies in Rues Lane accident

EAST BRUNSWICK - A 78-year-old township man was killed yesterday when he was struck by a pickup truck while out for his morning walk.

The accident occurred at 5:51 a.m. when a 2002 Dodge pickup being driven westbound on Rues Lane, approached the intersection of New Brunswick Avenue and struck Jing Fu Cai of East Brunswick.

Police said it appears that Cai was attempting to cross Rues Lane, traveling from New Brunswick Avenue to the area of the Civic Center Mall.

Cai, who was apparently out for his daily exercise when the accident occurred, was pronounced dead at Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, where he was taken after the accident.

The driver of the pickup truck, Peter J. Colalillo, 50, of East Brunswick, told police that he had a green light and that he applied his brakes to stop, but was unable to avoid hitting Cai.

Police said the preliminary investigation indicates that Cai was crossing against the red traffic signal and that he was not using the crosswalk when he was struck.

Rues Lane was closed for more than two hours between Cranbury Road and New Brunswick Avenue while police investigated the accident.

Although the incident is still under investigation, no charges had been filed at press time.

Police did not have any witnesses to the accident yesterday. Anyone with information is asked to contact Patrolman Christopher Soke of the East Brunswick Traffic Safety Section at (732) 390-6969.