WARREN — A State Police officer is recovering from serious injuries he suffered in a crash on Route 78 on Monday afternoon.

Medical helicopter lands on I-78 in Watchung
Medical helicopter lands on I-78 in Watchung (SteveChernoski via Twitter ‏ @nsjersey )
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The officer had to be extricated from his vehicle involved in a crash on the eastbound side of Route 78 in Warren Township, according to a statement from State Police. He was flown to University Hospital in Newark for treatment of serious leg injuries that are not considered life-threatening, the statement said.

NBC 4 New York reported the roof of the vehicle had to be taken off in order to get the trooper out.

State Police did not disclose the identity of the officer, nor the circumstances of the crash. Chris Burgos, president of the State Troopers Fraternal Association told New Jersey 101.5 the trooper "endured many hours of surgery thru the night for injuries to his legs" and said he faces a long recovery but "he is strong, and his family in good spirits."

The investigation and cleanup of the crash closed the eastbound highway for much of the afternoon commute, creating long delays.

Two State Police officers were injured during a traffic stop on March 2 on Route 80, near the Pennsylvania border, when the vehicle of an officer who stopped to help was rear-ended by a dump truck. The force pushed the second officer's vehicle into the Accord that had been pulled over, hitting the first officer and the person driving the Honda.

New Jersey State Police were involved in an incident last Thursday at the Molly Pitcher service area of the New Jersey Turnpike that left a man dead after he drove his pickup at a State Police officer, according to State Police.

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

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