Police investigating cause of head-on collision that tied up traffic for hours on Tuesday.
By: Rachel Silverman
Helen Corby, 57, of Lawrence was killed Tuesday afternoon when her car collided with an oncoming car on Route 206.
The accident, which occurred on the border of Princeton and Lawrence townships, forced the closing of Route 206 for over four hours, causing headaches and delays for rush-hour commuters.
Police said they received word of the accident at 3:37 p.m., when a concerned motorist reported a 1999 Honda Accord sedan swerving in and out of traffic. The witness then observed the northbound vehicle crash into a southbound car near the intersection of Route 206 and Hutchinson Drive in the vicinity of the Tournament Players Club at Jasna Polana.
Township police, Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad, Princeton Fire Department and paramedics from Capital Health System all responded to the scene, and initiated life-saving efforts.
Ms. Corby was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:05 p.m.
The second driver, 46-year-old Geraldine Schonberger of Princeton, driving a Hyundai sedan, was taken to Capital Health System’s Fuld campus in Trenton with a fractured femur.
The cause of Ms. Corby’s erratic driving has not been determined, police said Thursday.
"We completed some interviews from a witness. They didn’t turn up any cause," Township Police Capt. Mark Emann said. "Anything at this point would be speculation."
The captain did indicate, however, that Ms. Corby may have experienced a medical problem while driving.
"We’re leaning towards a medical emergency," Capt. Emann said. "But we’re waiting for information from the Medical Examiner’s Office."
Meanwhile, the investigation continues to move forward, police said, and more information will be made available when the toxicology report comes back in a few weeks.