By dave goldberg
Staff Writer
NORTH BRUNSWICK — A tractor-trailer caused a chain reaction crash on Route 130 early Monday morning, according to police.
Police said that the driver of the truck, Tyrone A. Young, 36, of Brooklyn, N.Y., caused the three-car collision
"The road was closed for a little more than two hours and we had traffic diverted," said Sgt. Jim Curry. "The traffic was diverted off George’s Road and we restricted movement. We used various traffic diversion plans. The Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department helped us out a great deal during the accident."
Ruby C. Fortenberry, 70, of Helmetta, the driver of a 2001 Dodge minivan was stopped on Adams Lane westbound at a Route 130 red light. When the light turned green, Fortenberry proceeded forward and was struck by Young, who was driving a 1998 Kenwood tractor-trailer.
Police said that Young was heading north on Route 130 in the left lane and allegedly disregarded the red signal at Adams Lane. He then allegedly crashed into Fortenberry’s minivan. The impact of the crash caused the minivan to spin off the road.
The tractor-trailer then allegedly veered left off the grass median and traveled north in southbound Route 130, reportedly crashing into a 1993 Ford minivan driven by Jose B. Velez, 19, of New Brunswick. Police said that Velez was slowing down for a red light at Adams Lane. Carmen Cano, 38, Alberto Luz, 41, Mariana Montecino, 22 and Aracely Ocelotl, 19, all of New Brunswick, were passengers in Velez’s minivan.
The tractor-trailer continued north in the southbound lane before swerving right over the grass median and the northbound lanes, running off the road, hitting a tree and crashing into a house on George’s Road, according to police.
"The tractor-trailer barely touched the house," said Curry. "If the trailer had hit the house at a full impact, the house would have been knocked off its foundation."
Police said that Young had told them he wasn’t wearing his seat belt and the initial impact caused him to be thrown over to the passenger side of the truck, not allowing him to brake or steer the tractor-trailer.
Curry said that there was minimal damage to the tractor-trailer.
"The tractor-trailer had minor front end damage," Curry said. "It was not serious."
The vans, however, both suffered major damage.
Several people were injured, but none of the injuries were considered life-threatening, according to Curry. All those injured were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and treated.
"The driver of the Dodge minivan was sent to the hospital and was listed in fair condition," Curry said. "It was nothing serious and the driver was released yesterday."
Young was charged with disregarding a traffic signal, according to Curry.