Multiple vehicle crash, van fire close part of NJ Turnpike

EDISON — A crash that involved six tractor trailers on the New Jersey Turnpike closed part of the road at the start of the afternoon commute.

The outer lanes were closed by the crash that involved "multiple vehicles" approaching Exit 10 for Routes 287 and 440 in Edison around 3:45 p.m., according to State Police spokesman Sgt. Lawrence Peele creating a multi-mile delay. There were rubbernecking delays in the inner lanes and on the southbound side. The outer lanes were reopened around 5:45 p.m.

Peele said investigators are still trying to determine the sequence of events that also sent five people to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

A van fire around 5:10 p.m. just north of the scene added to the delay. Peele said the driver pulled his white GMC van over to the shoulder when he noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. He got out of the van just before it became fully engulfed in flames, according to Peele.

Are you affected by the Turnpike closure? Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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