CRANBURY: Bicyclist critical after being hit by truck

By Nicole M. Wells, Special Writer
CRANBURY — An unidentified man was listed in critical condition after he was struck on July 17 while riding his bicycle on Route 130, according to a press release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
At approximately 3:34 p.m., the man was struck by a commercially owned 2006 International box truck, when it veered out of the southbound lane it was traveling in and onto the shoulder, according to the release.
Despite repeated requests, neither the bicyclist’s identity nor the identity of the truck driver is being released by the prosecutor’s office, which cited "the sensitive nature of the investigation," in an email, as the reason for withholding the information.
The office would also not identify the company that owns the truck.
Cranbury Chief of Police Rickey Varga said he was unable to provide the basic facts of the accident to The Cranbury Press and that all information must be released by the prosecutor’s office.
According to the New Jersey Press Association, police accident reports are "open to public inspection and copying and the information therein shall not be privileged or held confidential," as per state statute 39:4-131.
Additionally, Executive Order 69, signed by former Gov. Christine Whitman, holds that information related to crimes "shall be available to the public within 24 hours, or sooner if practicable."
The basic facts of the incident – such as the identifying information of the individuals involved – should be provided upon request, according to the order.
According to the press release, the man was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, where he was being treated for injuries sustained in the crash.
"I have no information to suggest the victim’s condition has changed since he was struck," spokesman Jim O’Neill, of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, said in an email on July 22.
According to the release, no charges have been filed but the cause of the accident remains under investigation.