Middlesex County, NJ – A driver was killed early Thursday morning after a chain-reaction crash involving four tractor-trailers erupted into flames, snarling traffic for hours during the morning commute.
New Jersey State Police responded to the crash around 4 a.m. on the northbound inner roadway near milepost 96.2 in Carteret, Middlesex County.
According to a preliminary investigation, two Freightliner tractor-trailers had stopped in the right lane due to traffic, while a third Freightliner was stopped in the center lane.
A fourth Freightliner then slammed into the rear of the stopped trucks, setting off a chain reaction that pushed the trucks in the right lane into each other as well.
Three of the four tractor-trailers caught fire and quickly became fully engulfed in flames. Footage from Chopper 2 captured lumber burning atop one of the trucks as thick black smoke poured into the sky above the highway.
The driver of the fourth tractor-trailer, the one that struck the others, was fatally injured and later died. Authorities have not released the driver’s identity, pending notification of next of kin. No other injuries were reported among the other drivers involved.
Hours of Delays Strand Commuters
The crash caused major disruptions on one of the busiest highways in the region just as the Thursday morning commute was getting underway. The northbound inner roadway north of Interchange 12 was shut down for hours, forcing all traffic onto the outer roadway. Backups stretched for miles, reaching as far back as Interchange 11.
New Jersey Transit CEO Kris Kolluri addressed the gridlock, acknowledging the frustration of commuters caught in the delays.
“I appreciate and understand that people are backed up for miles, including some of my colleagues,” Kolluri said.
He added that State Police crews were working as quickly as possible to clear the wreckage and reopen the roadway safely. Adding to the congestion, a second, unrelated crash occurred nearby on the opposite side of the turnpike, drawing rubbernecking drivers and further slowing traffic in both directions.
According to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, firefighters managed to fully extinguish the blaze by around 9 a.m.
By 11 a.m., most lanes had reopened, though the right lane on the northbound inner roadway and the ramp from the Interchange 12 toll plaza remained closed as cleanup continued.
Those final restrictions were lifted before 1:30 p.m., and all lanes were back open to traffic shortly after.
Kolluri confirmed that all lanes were fully reopened before 3 p.m. Thursday, bringing an end to a disruption that lasted nearly the entire workday for many commuters relying on the turnpike.
State Police have not yet released further details about the cause of the initial collision. A fatal accident investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not said whether any charges are expected as the probe into how the crash unfolded continues.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers heavy traffic and stopped vehicles can pose on high-speed highways, especially during early morning hours when visibility and driver alertness can be reduced. Authorities have not indicated whether weather or mechanical issues played a role in the crash.
