Woman Killed When SUV Crashes Into New Jersey Bus Stop In Hit-And-Run

NORTH BERGEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A woman was killed when an SUV crashed through a bus stop in New Jersey, authorities said.

A Hyundai Sonata crashed into the bus stop on River Road in front of Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen around 7:00 a.m. Tuesday.

As CBS2's Marc Liverman reported, the SUV also sheared off a bike lane and took down a tree before destroying the bus stop.

"Everybody was just hysterical," witness Anel Pla said. "Somebody to be so cold to leave somebody dead like that is just terrible."

Authorities said the driver then fled on foot and remains at large. The driver apparently was alone in the SUV at the time of the incident.

A K-9 unit and extra officers quickly responded to the scene and fanned out searching for the driver.

"I saw somebody running out of the car and people from the hospital. It was just a lot of commotion," Pla added.

"He was probably desperate to be taking off and eluding the police, as well," Edgewater resident Damian Hernandez said.

The bus stop was completely crumpled and the SUV was still inside hours after the crash, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.

It wasn't immediately clear how many people were at the bus stop at the time or how many people may have been injured.

The victim was a 59-year-old North Bergen woman whose name has not been released. Police said she worked at a skilled nursing facility right across the street, Liverman reported.

The roadway was closed in both directions for hours as authorities investigated.

Hudson County prosecutors are leading the investigation.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)