2-Year-Old Girl Flies Out of Grandmother's Arms, Dies After Mail Truck Hits Them on Street: Witnesses

A 2-year-old girl died, and a grandmother and 4-year-old child were injured when a mail truck hit them as they tried to cross a New Jersey street Monday, authorities say.

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The vehicle slammed into the pedestrians on Rahway Avenue in Elizabeth around 10 a.m., officials said. Witnesses said the grandmother was carrying the 2-year-old, who was tossed into the air by the impact.

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"When she looked back she saw the truck and turned but the baby flew up," said witness Andres Figueroa. "It's hard to see a baby like that."

Witnesses said the grandmother appeared unconscious, under the mail truck, at the scene; another driver stopped and ran out to help the older child as the mail carrier pulled the 2-year-old out of the road.  

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The 2-year-old girl was initially taken to the hospital in critical condition; the toddler later died there. The 4-year-old child and the grandmother were also taken to a hospital; the extent of their injuries is unknown. 

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Chopper 4 footage from the scene showed a United States Postal Service truck and a motorcycle cordoned off by caution tape. The USPS driver remained at the scene; witnesses said the driver had the right of way.

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"It's a lot of traffic here," said witness Edgar Rubin Gomez. "A lot of people, they don't want to wait for the lights so they just cross."  

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Kim Tansey said she travels in Elizabeth regularly and the intersection where the three people were hit "is a really bad intersection." She called the child's death "heartbreaking." 

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A spokesman for USPS said the Postal Service is conducting a full investigation and cooperating with authorities.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all involved in the tragic event today," spokesman George Flood said. 

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