Jackknifed tractor trailer on Route 78 slows morning commute

CLINTON — A jackknifed tractor trailer closed two lanes of Route 78 in Hunterdon County and slowed the start of the Friday morning commute.

At least two trucks were involved in the crash, in the eastbound lanes near Exit 18 for Route 22 in Clinton. A fuel spill for the incident must also be cleaned up, according to New Jersey Fast Traffic's Bob Williams.

Williams said alternate routes are few to avoid the delay, and suggested an alternate of Exit 15 for Route 173, following it through downtown Clinton to Beaver Avenue and back onto Route 78 at Exit 18.

"There are not many alternate routes to offer here, with the accident being just east of the split for Route 22. By the time you have sat in the delays, you might as well stay with 78," Williams said.

State Police have not yet returned a message seeking further details about the incident.

The crash is the third major crash on North and Central Jersey interstates in the past 24 hours. A crash on Route 78 westbound in Watchung on Thursday afternoon caused big delays in both directions for most of the Thursday afternoon commute, after a car went off the road and into the trees of the median.

Two State Police officers were involved in a crash on Route 80 westbound in Knowlton, also on Thursday, that closed the road for several hours. Details have yet to be released about that crash.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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