A three-vehicle crash involving a minivan and two tractor-trailers on the New Jersey Turnpike early Monday morning left one person dead at the scene, according to authorities.
by Amy Batista, Special Writer
ROBBINSVILLE — A three-vehicle crash involving a minivan and two tractor-trailers on the New Jersey Turnpike early Monday morning left one person dead at the scene, according to authorities.
Police said they are not yet releasing the victim’s name pending the notification of the family.
”We are not releasing details on that person yet,” Trooper Jeff Flynn said. “I do not have confirmation of next of kin notification.”
According to State Police, the accident, involving a 2012 Chrysler Town and Country minivan and two tractor-trailers, occurred at 12:35 a.m. Monday in the area of exit 7A at milemarker 60.5 northbound.
”The (minivan) crossed all lanes of travel, hit a guardrail and then ended up back in the roadway in the center lane where it was struck by one of the tractor-trailers,” said New Jersey State Trooper Flynn.
Robbinsville Fire and EMS responded to the scene with Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1 and Hightstown EMS.
Robbinsville Township Fire Department Deputy Chief Daniel Schaffener said responders found the minivan crashed into the guardrail with heavy damage to the right rear side and front-end.
Trooper Flynn said that the victim was a passenger in the minivan.
The fire department crew worked immediately to free the trapped passenger with serious injuries at the scene of the accident.
Two other passengers were not extricated, officials said.
”The crew began removing the roof of the car and the middle row driver side seat to gain access to the patient,” Deputy Chief Schaffener said. “They found one male patient in the rear seat with injuries.”
Access to the patient was gained after about five minutes, he said.
”The patient was placed on a long board, removed from the vehicle and placed on a stretcher,” Deputy Chief Schaffener said, adding that EMS crew took over patient care from that point on.
Florence Chen, 20, of Granger, Indiana; Jacob Steinberg-Cho, 20, of Nyack, New York, and Graham Wyatt, 21, of Minnesota, were travelling together in the minivan.
It was unclear, as of press time, who was driving or a passenger in the minivan.
The tractor-trailer drivers names were not available, police said.
Trooper Flynn confirmed that one truck driver had a serious injury and the other truck driver had two minor injuries and were all transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton.