Most of us are driving a lot less right now, which in turn, means there are less of us on the road. However, we cannot ever let our guards down on the road, even when pulled into a marked-off area, like a construction zone. Unfortunately, this happened last Thursday on Interstate 195 in Mercer County.
What happened?
According to the New Jersey State Police Department, the car accident happened just after 9:00 p.m. on eastbound I-195 in nearby Hamilton Township, near Exit 3, milepost 3.2. The driver of a Ford Escape pulled his vehicle over into a marked construction zone in the right lane. Then, for unknown reasons, the driver and passenger existed the vehicle and stood near the SUV, all still in that marked construction zone.
At this point, a Dodge Ram entered the construction zone and impacted a Freightliner crash truck, which was there to protect the construction workers. This pushed the crash truck forward, which then struck the Ford Escape and the two pedestrians standing near that SUV.
What happened after the crash?
Obviously, both of the pedestrians sustained critical injuries. The driver of the Dodge Ram though, only had moderate injuries. Nonetheless, everyone was taken by ambulance to the same nearby hospital.
The accident shut down Exit 3 and the right lane of eastbound I-195. Both were not opened for six hours, and the car accident is still being investigated. Anyone who witnessed the accident or recorded it on dash cam should contact NJSPD.
What can we learn from this?
Regardless of where we are on the road, even protected by a crash truck, we must be constantly vigilant because New Jersey roads, like everyone road in the U.S., is dangerous. But, if a Lawnside resident is still injured in an accident, after calling the police, their first call should be to an attorney. The attorney can help direct them on next steps to ensure their rights are protected and eventually vindicated.