The accident took the life a 34-year-old East Windsor man and closed a portion of Route 522 for nearly two hours.
By: Brian Shappell
An accident involving a car and a dump truck last week claimed the life a 34-year-old East Windsor man and also closed a portion of Route 522 for nearly two hours .
Osbel Monroig-Rivera was pronounced dead at 1:59 on Sept. 13 after his 1995 Mazda was hit on the driver’s by a dump truck driven by Frank Maltese, 40, of North Brunswick at the intersection of Route 522 and Bard Drive. The dump truck was owned by Vitelli Trucking of New Brunswick.
Mr. Monroig-Rivera was trying to turn onto Route 522 from Northumberland Way, opposite of Bard Drive near the Southridge Woods Apartments South complex at 1:30 p.m., police said.
The passenger side of Mr. Monroig-Rivera’s vehicle was severely damaged, with both doors collapsed into the driver’s seat and the windows smashed. The truck was not seriously damaged.
Mr. Monroig-Rivera died at the scene after members of the Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad were unable to revive him.
Though the investigation is still in progress, the dump truck appeared to have the right of way, according to police.
Residents have appeared in the past at Township Council meetings requesting that truck use on the road be restricted because of noise and the risk large trucks pose in potential accidents.
"I know a lot of people that live on 522 have concerns about trucks using that roadway," said Public Information Officer Jim Ryan.
There is no indication at this time whether a traffic light will be considered for the intersection, he said.
"Anytime there’s an accident, the Traffic Safety Bureau has to do an investigation," Officer Ryan said. "We’re going to have to wait to see if they make any suggestions."
Mr. Monroig-Rivera is survived by his parents, Aida and Dionisio Martinez; his fiancee, Marla Welch of Twin Rivers; a sister, Lourdes Monroig of Plainfield; four brothers, Rogelio Monroig of Buffalo, N.Y., Rafael Monroig of Plainfield and Ivan Monroig and Homero Martinez of Twin Rivers.

