Truck kills woman on Camplain Road

By:Emily Craighead
   A 44-year-old woman whose last known address was South Bank Street in Manville, was pronounced dead at 8 p.m. Tuesday after being run over by a tractor-trailer traveling westbound on Old Camplain Road in Hillsborough, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest.
   The victim, Judith A. Merrill, was already lying in the roadway when she was run over by the truck, according to Mr. Forrest. Police are still investigating why Ms. Merrill was on the road.
   The accident occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m., under dark and rainy conditions, Mr. Forrest said. Old Camplain Road was closed to through traffic for approximately four hours.
   The vehicle involved was a 1998 Peterbuilt tractor pulling a trailer with construction machinery, driven by Bruce Wessel, 49, of Richard Avenue in Manville. The tractor-trailer was preparing to turn right into the entrance driveway of Dave’s Heavy Duty Towing, the company that owns the truck and employs Mr. Wessel.
   Wednesday, no charges had been filed against the driver pending further investigation, according to Mr. Forrest.
   Confirmation of Ms. Merrill’s address is pending. It is believed she moved to Thor Solverg Road in Whitehouse Station, Mr. Forrest said.
   Hillsborough Township Police and the Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team from the prosecutor’s office are handling the investigation.
   Mr. Forrest and Hillsborough Police Chief Robert Gazaway request anyone with information about the accident to contact the Hillsborough Police at (908) 369-4324, the Somerset County Collision Reconstruction at (908) 231-7100 or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers TIPS line at 1-888-577-8477. All calls will be kept confidential.