March 21, 2022
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Around 3:15 p.m. a 9-1-1 call was received reporting a vehicle crashed into the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, canal and was under water. Initial reports for the crash were for several locations including in the Whitehead Road area and Route 1, and behind WaWa near Bakers Basin Road. Lawrence Police, Lawrence Fire Departments, EMS and Capital Health Paramedics entered the trail from several points to try and find the exact location of the crash.
Lawrence Fire Department (Tower 20 crew) found a person on Route 1 waving the fire truck down near Mile Post 4.4 on the North Bound Side of the highway. It was the 9-1-1 caller; a companion who witnessed the motorcycle crash into the canal and pointed to the location of the accident.
The fire crew ran down the embankment toward the reported location and found a person in the water suffering from severe trauma and pulled the person out of water and began CPR. Police, EMS, along with Paramedics were directed to the proper location. The person was rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
A dirt bike type motorcycle was found in the water. Lawrence Township Police had the D&R Canal path blocked off from Whitehead Road to Carnagie Road for the investigation.
MidJersey.News has not been able to officially confirm this was a fatal accident, but all indications are that the person was pronounced at the hospital. Lawrence Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office referred press information to the New Jersey State Park Police, were a reporter was told that the public information officer was not available. Information contained in this report is from radio reports and on scene reporting, once official information becomes available the story will be updated.
According to the D&R Canal website: The historic towpath along the main canal from Bakers Basin Road (Trenton) to New Brunswick has a natural surface for hiking, jogging, horseback riding, and biking. From Mulberry Street to Bakers Basin Road, the trail is crushed stone. Horse trailers may be parked in some of the parking areas located along the main canal. The trail along the feeder canal is made of fine textured crushed stone and is for hiking, jogging and biking. No horses are permitted on the feeder canal trail. Motorized vehicles or ATV’s are not permitted on trails in the park.
An aerial view of the scene shows a dirt bike type of motorcycle under water.