Van passenger dies after Route 3 tractor trailer accident

A serious accident that trapped 2 people inside a van for over an hour and closed Route 3 in both directions in North Jersey has claimed a life.

Accident on Route 3 eastbound (NJ DOT)

CBS New York reports a tractor trailer traveling east carrying large pieces of steel struck the Paterson Plank Road overpass in Secaucus, knocking it over onto a van around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The passenger and the driver were removed from the van according to My Fox New York. Secaucus Police confirm that the unidentified passenger died of injuries at Hackensack University Medical Center.

"It's an absolute miracle that they survived," Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli, who is a member of the Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department, told NJ.com on Wednesday afternoon. "This is one of the worst I've seen.

One lane of westbound Route 3 was opened to traffic for Wednesday's afternoon commute. Eastbound lanes remained closed until early Thursday morning around 4 a.m. as workers completed an emergency concrete deck repair on the overpass. ABC 7 reports a large beam under the deck shifted 3 feet after being struck.