EDISON — Five people were injured, including one woman who suffered “potentially life threatening injuries,” and two children, in a rush-hour collision on Aug. 22 between a tractor trailer and a minivan on Route 1, which set off a chain-reaction crash of six other vehicles, according to police Lt. Robert Dudash.
The accident occurred at 5:20 p.m. on Route 1 south near Prince Street, forcing Edison police to shut down all six lanes of the busy highway in both directions and divert traffic through nearby Metuchen. Lanes reopened after 2 a.m. on Aug. 23.
As of 5 a.m. on Aug. 23, the woman was still in the intensive care unit at Robert Wood University Hospital in New Brunswick in critical condition, officials said.
Edison firefighters cut apart five badly damaged cars to free drivers and passengers who were trapped, according to fire Capt. Andy Toth.
“Many of the people removed from those vehicles sustained cuts, scrapes and complained of legs, back and shoulder pain,” he said.
Middlesex County HAZMAT, investigators from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and state Transportation Department emergency crews responded to the accident scene to assist Edison police and firefighters.