Woman fatally struck crossing Rt. 17 identified as N.J. resident, influencer

A woman who died after being struck by two vehicles early Saturday while crossing Route 17 in Bergen County has been identified as a Hillsdale resident and social media influencer.

Demaris D. Martinez, 28, was struck about 3:30 a.m. as she attempted to cross the southbound lanes of traffic in Paramus after having crossed the northbound lanes and the median, according to police.

Martinez was hit by one vehicle in the middle lane driven by a 42-year-old motorist and was then hit again by a tractor-trailer driven by a 65-year-old, police said.

Neither motorist was charged, according to Paramus police Chief Robert M. Guidetti.

"The investigation is ongoing, with detectives working to determine how Miss Martinez arrived in Paramus, specifically in the area of Citibank, located at 700 State Highway 17 North," Guidetti said in an email on Tuesday.

Anyone with information about Martinez's whereabouts prior to 3:30 a.m. Saturday is asked to call detectives at 201-262-3400, ext. 428.

Martinez was a popular YouTuber and influencer known for her videos on travel, shopping, cooking, lifestyle advice, and education. In some of her videos she mentions she is the mother of a young son.

Martinez's main TikTok account has nearly 15,000 subscribers and more than 737,000 likes.

In a video posted to YouTube seven months ago, Martinez said she was strengthening her relationship with God and working on earning a law degree. "I will be one of the world's greatest lawyers one day," Martinez says in the video.

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