By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
A pair of separate, but related, accidents on Route 1 early Thursday morning sent three motorists and a police officer to the hospital.
The first crash took place at 1 a.m. at the intersection of Route 1 north and Major Road when a 2003 Freightliner tractor trailer, driven by Alvin Nicholson, 62, of Howell, crashed into the rear of a 2003 Kenilworth tanker truck, driven by Edwin Diaz, 49, of Virginia Beach, according to police.
The collision caused a large fuel spill that closed the northbound lanes of the highway for the spill to be cleaned up and pesticides being transported by the tanker to be transferred to another tanker by the Middlesex County Hazmat team and the Department of Transportation, police said.
The Monmouth Junction Fire Department and First Aid Squad also responded to the scene and both truck drivers were taken to Robert Wood University Hospital in New Brunswick for non-life threatening injuries, according to police.
Mr. Nicholson was issued a citation for careless driving in that accident, police said.
About 45 minutes later, as 25-year department veteran Patrolman First Class Mark Lorenc sat in his patrol car blocking Route 1 north due to the prior crash, his police cruiser was struck broadside by a 2002 Nissan Altima driven by Shawn Fraiser, 42, of Kendall Park, police said.
According to police, Ms. Frasier was coming home from the Parx Casino in Pennsylvania and struck Officer Lorenc’s vehicle at about 55 m.p.h..
The Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad transported Officer Lorenc to Robert Wood Johnson where he was treated for a concussion and back injury. He was released and is currently resting at home, according to police.
Ms. Frasier was also taken to the same hospital by the Kendall Park First Aid Squad for non-life threatening injuries, according to police.
Police believe that Ms. Frasier may have fallen asleep at the wheel prior to the crash and are also investigating to see if alcohol may have been a factor as well, police said.
No summonses have been issued yet in the second crash, which totaled the police cruiser, police said. Both crashes caused Route 1 north to be closed until 6 a.m., police said.

