A multi-vehicle crash involving a car carrier left an SUV driver trapped on Route 80 in Elmwood Park on March 13. New Jersey State Police said the accident occurred at approximately 11:20 a.m.
According to authorities, the chain-reaction crash started when a Pennsylvania-based semi hauling produce broke down in the center lane near Exit 62. A car carrier then swerved to avoid the semi but smashed into an SUV, sandwiching it between the two big rigs. The driver of the SUV was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extricated by members of the Saddle Brook Rescue 1 squad. He was transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. Elmwood Park firefighters rescued the driver of a Nissan sedan.
The westbound lanes of Route 80 were closed for a period of time as authorities conducted their investigation and removed the vehicles that had been involved.
Commercial truck drivers are required to follow all traffic laws and remain attentive to their surroundings at all time. If a truck driver is texting or otherwise distracted, they may not notice a disabled vehicle in time to avoid hitting it, resulting in a truck accident that causes serious injuries to others. Anyone who has been in a similar accident and has been injured as a result may wish to speak to an attorney about the available remedies. After reviewing the case, one option may be to file a personal injury lawsuit against the commercial truck driver who caused the crash as well as his or her employer. A successful claim may result in an award of compensation for a victim’s medical expenses and other damages.
Source: NJ.com, “Driver rescued after Route 80 crash, police say,” Noah Cohen, March 13, 2015
