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CRANBURY: Crash brings down powerline, fire (UPDATED)

By Amy Batista, Special Writer

By Amy Batista
CRANBURY- A Thursday evening crash on Route 130 north at the border of East Windsor Township left a senior couple from Monroe trapped inside their vehicle while rescue crews feverishly worked to free them.
According to Lt. James Geary of the East Windsor Police Department, the accident took place around 10:14 p.m. just south of the Cranbury circle.
Anthony Saer, 72, of Monroe, was driving a red 2011 Kia when it left the roadway, struck a utility pole, and then rolled onto its roof.  His wife, Ann, 72, of Monroe was the passenger in the front seat of the vehicle, according to police.
The impact snapped the utility pole in half, bringing the power line down, which then caused two separate brush fires in the wooded area just off of the northbound side of the road.
“We received a report of a brief loss of power from area residents,” said Lt. Geary. “It was described as a few minutes in duration.”
The East Windsor and Cranbury police departments, East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company #1, East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company #2, East Windsor Volunteer Rescue Squad #1, East Windsor Volunteer Rescue Squad #2, Hightstown Engine Co. #1, and Capital Health Systems Paramedics responded to the scene to assist with the accident and fire.
The couple was freed from the wreck and transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick for non-life threatening injuries as a result of the accident, according to police.
The couple received lacerations and abrasions in the accident, Lt. Geary said.
Route 130 was closed in both directions until 12:50 a.m. Friday morning, Lt. Geary said.
The East Windsor Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit and the Serious Collision Response Team of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office are conducting an investigation into the cause of the one-vehicle accident.
No charges have been filed at this time, Lt. Geary said.