By: John Tredrea
HOPEWELL – A 36-year-old Trenton woman was killed instantly at 7:14 a.m. Thursday when, according to witnesses, she drifted across the center line of state Route 31 and was hit head-on by a northbound tractor-trailer.
The victim, Anastasia Ellis of Centre Street, was driving a Hyundai, heading south on Route 31 about a half-mile south of Route 518, when the accident occurred.
"For an unknown reason, she went across the center line into the northbound lane, where she was hit head-on by the truck," Hopewell Township Police Chief Michael Chipowsky said Thursday morning. "She was killed on impact. There were several witnesses to the accident."
The driver of the truck, Nelson Torres, 51, of Jackson, suffered minor injuries in the accident, the chief said. One of the truck’s saddle tanks was ripped off in the collision, spilling about 100 gallons of diesel fuel onto the roadway.
Chief Chipowsky said Mr. Torres’ truck was 96 inches wide, meaning that, regardless of whether he was on an interstate run or not, he was not in violation of a state ban on interstate trucking. The ban only applies to 102-inch wide trucks. The investigation was continuing.
