A driver was killed over the weekend in a fiery crash involving a fuel tanker truck along a busy highway in central New Jersey, authorities said.
Troopers responded to the crash just before 6 a.m. local time Sunday on the northbound side of Interstate 287 between Exits 1 and 2 near the Edison-Metuchen border, a spokesperson for the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) told NTD via email on Monday.
Officials said a preliminary investigation indicated a Volvo truck pulling a tanker carrying more than 8,000 gallons of fuel was traveling north when a Jeep SUV struck the rear of the trailer, causing both vehicles to become fully engulfed in flames.
Officials said the driver of the Jeep sustained fatal injuries, while the passenger was seriously injured and taken to an area hospital. Joshi initially said four people were injured as a result of the crash. However, the NJSP's spokesperson clarified that no other injuries were reported at the scene.
Authorities have not released the names of those involved, pending notification of next of kin. It remains unclear what led the Jeep to strike the tanker, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
"Any affected runoff areas are already being addressed by DEP crews, and officials do not expect any significant environmental impact," he added.
Busch said he was grateful for the Metuchen Fire Department crews after flames from the accident spread to trees that were along the highway near the scene, noting that firefighters successfully prevented the fire from spreading into Metuchen.
"I truly cannot overstate how important that effort was in preventing an already very serious situation from becoming even worse for our community," the mayor shared.