October 26, 2022
Lawrence Township, NJ (Mercer) – Traffic along Route 1 is reduced to a two-way crawl for several hours today after a traffic accident involving a dump truck and a sport utility vehicle in the Quaker Bridge Mall area Did. Adding to the traffic nightmare were several secondary accidents along Route 1 between Lawrence and West Windsor as traffic backed up and nearly stopped.
The first accident occurred at about 3:10 pm along the south side of SH1 just before the Kerry Viaduct (the overpass linking SH1 south to Quaker Bridge Mall). During the crash, Dumper’s truck reportedly hit the Jersey barrier that separates the southbound and northbound lanes of Route 1. The impact tore several chain link fences above the barrier, punctured several holes in the barrier itself, and splattered concrete chunks and other debris into the north-facing lane. The dump truck and his SUV then stopped near the Kelley Viaduct ramp.
The driver of the SUV reportedly complained of pain after the crash but refused medical help. Lawrence Township firefighters were called in to contain the spilled diesel fuel and prevent it from spilling into a nearby storm drain. The tank reportedly contained as much as 70 gallons of fuel. Most of that amount reportedly spilled onto the road. Firefighters build bars around storm drains using absorbent pads, booms, and other materials to keep spilled fuel out of drains and local waterways that may be connected to drains. I made it
A response team from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Trenton Fire Department Hazardous Materials Task Force were then called in to contain and clean up the diesel to minimize the potential impact of the spill. A large tow truck was used. The cause of the accident is under investigation by Lawrence Township Police.
NJDOT was also on site to assist with traffic control, lane closures and debris clearing.
Lawrence Township NIXLE Alert: Major Crash Route 1 in the area of Quakerbridge Mall.
Avoid Highway 1 in the Quakerbridge Mall area, as there was a lot of debris on the roadway and a car accident. Significant delay in both directions.
The Trenton Fire Department responded to the scene of a hazardous materials incident. Firefighters used booms, oil absorbents and pads to keep additional fuel from spilling into the waterways.
