NJ Turnpike traffic nightmare ends in tragedy after 4 tractor-trailers erupt in flames

🔥Four tractor-trailers collided near Exit 12 in Carteret early Thursday morning

🔥The trucks became fully engulfed in flames

🔥 One truck driver died in the fire

CARTERET — A chain reaction collision between four tractor-trailers on the New Jersey Turnpike sparked a fatal fire and closed the inner roadway for hours.

The crash near Exit 12 in Carteret around 3:45 a.m. stopped traffic headed north in the car lanes as the trucks became fully engulfed in flames. One of the trucks was carrying lumber and another was carrying convenience store supplies, including cans of hair spray that were sporadically igniting. Another was carrying candy.

State police said four Freightliner tractor trailers were headed north when two stopped in the right lane and one stopped in the center lane. The fourth truck hit the other three from behind causing them to burst into flames as they were pushed into each other., according to State Police spokesperson DSG Caitlin Brennan.

The driver of the fourth truck died but their identity was not disclosed following positive identification by the coroner. No other injuries were reported.

Firefighters had difficulty getting water to the fire as hoses cannot be easily run across the highway and there are no hydrants available. The fire was extinguished late Thursday morning.

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Drivers trapped by closure

Traffic in the inner lanes was at a complete standstill as fire equipment filled the lanes. The left lane and shoulder were reopened to traffic after 7 a.m.

All traffic was pushed to the inner lanes for road work in the outer lanes before the crash.

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