By Amy Batista, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — A Monroe man involved in a March 14 evening crash on Route 130 north in the area of Old Cranbury Road has died, according to police.
Anthony Saer, 72, of Monroe, was pronounced dead at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick at 12:07 p.m. Sunday afternoon from a medical condition and complications related to the crash, according to Lt. James Geary of the East Windsor Police Department.
”It has been determined that the driver experienced a medical event preceding the accident and that his death was attributed to a combination of this event and complications from injuries sustained in the accident,” Lt. Geary said in a press release Monday afternoon.
The accident took place around 10:14 p.m. just south of the Cranbury circle when Mr. Saer’s red 2011 Kia left the road, struck a utility pole, then rolled onto its roof. His wife, Ann, 72, of Monroe, was a passenger in the front seat of the vehicle, according to police.
”We were dispatched for a heavy rescue,” said Chief Kevin Brink of the East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 on Monday. “When we got there, it was a one-vehicle MVA with the vehicle overturned and heavy damage. Two people were trapped inside.”
Chief Brink compared the scene to a movie set.
”It kind of looked like something from a movie when you were pulling up,” Chief Brink said.
The crash left the senior couple trapped inside their vehicle while rescue crews feverishly worked to free them.
According to Chief Brink, he was about 30 to 40 feet from the vehicle and said the driver was unconscious and had “severe injuries” when he was removed from the car.
The impact of the car against the utility pole caused it to snap in half, bringing the power line down, which then caused two separate brush fires in the wooded area just off the northbound side of the road.
According to Chief Brink, there brush fires were along the northbound lanes of Route 130 between Old Cranbury Road and the bridge.
”It didn’t go past the bridge, which is the dividing line between us, East Windsor, and Cranbury,” Chief Brink said.
The power company was called to cut power to the lines, according to Chief Brink.
”They were out there fairly soon,” Chief Brink added.
”We received a report of a brief loss of power from area residents,” Lt. Geary said. “It was described as a few minutes in duration.”
East Windsor resident Melissa Florke described what happened in her neighborhood, The Cranbury Manor, which is just around the corner from where the accident took place.
”I was at home reading when the lights blinked on and off several times before going out completely,” Ms. Florke said in an email Monday. “You could hear the electricity surge before they went out and again when they came back on about five minutes later. I didn’t see anything as I was at home at the time, but did hear a loud booming noise.”
The East Windsor and Cranbury police departments, East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 2, East Windsor Volunteer Rescue Squad No. 1, East Windsor Volunteer Rescue Squad No. 2, Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1 and Capital Health Systems paramedics responded to the scene to assist with the accident and fires.
The couple was freed from the wreck and transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick for lacerations and abrasions in the accident, according to police.
While the injuries at the time of the accident were not considered life-threatening, Lt. Geary said Mr. Saer had an unidentified medical condition that led to losing control of the vehicle.
Route 130 was closed in both directions until 12:50 a.m. Friday morning, Lt. Geary said.
”We stayed on scene and provided some light while the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office was out there doing their investigation along with the police,” Chief Brink said, adding he and other volunteers left a little after midnight.
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.
”Everybody did a phenomenal job with all the help provided,” Chief Brink said.

