New Jersey: Dump Truck Hits N.J. State Troopers, Ambulance, Fire Truck In Chain-Reaction Crash In West Orange
A dump truck crashed into two state troopers in West Orange before smashing into an ambulance, fire truck and more, shutting down Interstate 280 Tuesday morning.
A fire truck, ambulance, New Jersey State Trooper, dump truck and more were involved in a crash on July 30, 2019. (credit: CBS2)
State troopers were pulled over in the eastbound lanes of the interstate near Exit 9, responding to an accident around 10:20 a.m.
Louis Reed saw that accident happen.
“Yeah, they were speeding. The guy that hit that first car, he was speeding … [Then] he swerved and lost control,” Reed said.
Two troopers were standing outside their patrol cars, apparently speaking to people involved in the accident, when a dump truck came barreling down the highway, hitting the two troopers and multiple pedestrians.
Robert Hoatson could see the crash from his apartment window. He says the dump truck seemed to be out of control.
“Barreling down, hitting the troopers, tearing off part of the trooper car and then flipping over and running into the ambulance,,” he told CBS2’s Hazel Sanchez.
The dump truck burst into flames when it slammed into the back of an ambulance, which then got pushed into the rear of a fire truck.
One woman had to be pulled from her burning car.
“It was horrific. It shook me to the bones,” Hoatson said. “I’ve been living here for five years and I’ve seen horrific accidents, and this is the worst I’ve ever seen.”
Seven people were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. Two troopers suffered serious injuries but are expected to be OK. One other trooper sustained minor injuries.
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