June 4, 2021
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–According to NJ State Police there was a serious accident on I-295 north bound at Mile post 71.9 where a dump truck hit a guardrail around 10:15 a.m. (appears to be guardrail for the supports of highway sign). The driver of the truck sustained serious injures and was transported to the Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton. Northbound lanes and a left southbound lane are shut down for the serious accident investigation.
Hopewell Township Fire Departments, Lawrence Township Fire Department, Capital Health Paramedics, and Hopewell EMS responded to the scene.
An unnamed witness said the cab of the truck was fully involved as the firefighters were arriving. The witness said that passersby pulled the driver from the burning cab. The witness also said that the supports at the base of the sign appeared to be heavily damaged and was afraid that the sign might fall.
Another witness reported that approximately five truck drivers stopped to help and pulled the driver to safety right after the crash saving the man.
The impact of the crash forced the sign support out of the ground, according to NJ DOT spokeswoman Judith Drucker, closing Route 295 northbound between Route 206 and Route 31.
Goez said police and DOT are awaiting the arrival of a crane to remove the sign. He did not have an estimated time of arrival of the crane, which could be delayed by a heavy thunderstorm moving through the area.
Contractors are on scene along with three flatbed trailers and a welding truck, according to Drucker.
No further information is available at this time.
This is the second serious dump truck accident of the day. Early this morning South Brunswick responded to a serious dump truck crash that closed Route 1 for hours. You can read that MidJersey.news story here: Dump Truck Crash Closes Route 1 In South Brunswick
Witness said that at least 5 truckdrivers and passersby pulled the man from this burning truck on I-295 north bound today saving the man from the inferno. Photos by: Lee Eggert
Photos by Brian McCarthy, OnScene News
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