Police say SUV crash on Route 78 leaves 5 people hurt

A toddler was among five people seriously hurt in a single SUV crash on Route 78 in Hunterdon County this morning, according to State Police.

The road was closed in both directions around 7:20 a.m., to allow at least two medical helicopters to land east of exit 18 for Route 22, State Police said.

State Police spokesman Trooper Alejandro Goez said Fredis Amaya-Gomez, 30, from Maryland lost control of a Nissan Xterra and overturned. Amaya-Gomez was ejected from the vehicle along with one of the rear passengers.

Others in the SUV, including a 17-year-old, a 72-year-old, a 6-year-old and a 1-year-old, all from Morristown, were transported via medical helicopter to Morristown Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.

A picture taken by passing motorist Mike Cocciolillo showed a badly damaged vehicle in the grass median.

All westbound lanes were reopened around 9 a.m. while two lanes were closed eastbound creating a multi-mile delay as of 9:30 a.m.

Route 22 east also picked up some traffic from drivers trying to get around the closure.

A week earlier, an overturned car on Route 78 eastbound near exit 11 in Bethlehem injured five family members from Brooklyn.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ

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