HILLSBOROUGH: Trucker involved in fatal crash

By Charles W. Kim, Packet Media Group
   A Hillsborough truck driver was involved in an accident that killed a woman Monday morning at the intersection of route 522 and 1 in South Brunswick.
   South Brunswick Sgt. James Ryan said the accident took place at about 9:56 a.m. as Laura Bartlett, 60, of South Brunswick, turned her 1996 Subaru from westbound Route 522 onto southbound Route 1.
   Her car was struck by a 2005 dump truck heading east across Route 1. The impact drove the Subaru some 75 feet into a traffic light stanchion, which collapsed onto the north side of the highway, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Ms. Bartlett was killed instantly, according to the officer.
   The driver of the truck, identified as Jay L. Tublin, 46, of Hillsborough, was not injured and is cooperating with the investigation, including giving police a blood sample, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Police still are investigating the crash and interviewing several witnesses, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Police do not know why the Subaru apparently turned in front of the truck, and no citations had been issued, Sgt. Ryan said.
   The Monmouth Junction Fire Department, South Brunswick EMS, Middlesex County Medical Examiner and state Department of Transportation workers responded, along with township and state police, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Sgt. Ryan said he did not know if the truck was hauling material from the Trap Rock Quarry at the end of Promenade Boulevard, which runs into Route 522 at that intersection.
   According to the U.S. Department of Transportation website, the truck is owned by Zeus Trucking in Hillsborough, a company owned by Mr. Tublin.
   The trucking company does not have any accidents or safety violations listed on the website.