A tow truck operator was struck and killed by a vehicle whose driver also later died Tuesday following a collision on the median of Route 22 in Readington, authorities said.

The 26-year-old tow truck driver, Seth Newton, was out of his truck working to remove a disabled vehicle when he was hit by a westbound SUV that veered onto the median shortly after 3 p.m., Readington police said Wednesday.

Newton, of Readington, was pronounced dead at the scene — near the Phillips 66 gas station, police said. The driver of the other SUV, — Gary Vondrasek, 86, of Lebanon was brought to a local hospital where he later died.

A police spokesman said investigators are unsure if Vondrasek died of injuries from the crash or from a medical episode. There were no passengers in Vondrasek’s vehicle.

Police had earlier closed the left lane of eastbound Route 22 so Newton could safely tow the broken down vehicle, officials said.