NJ trooper badly hurt in Route 78 crash identified

WARREN TOWNSHIP — The New Jersey State Police have identified the trooper badly hurt in Monday afternoon's accident on Interstate 78, as well as the driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash.

According to the police, 26-year-old Trooper Jeffrey Almeida was driving in his patrol car heading east on Interstate 78 when it struck an Acura driven by 29-year-old Marquis Godfrey of Newark.

Police said the impact caused Almeida's car to go off the road and into the median where it hit several trees before coming to a stop. Almeida was extricated from the car and taken to University Medical Center in New Brunswick.

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

He suffered what State Police described as "serious, but non-life-threatening leg injuries."

Both drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, police said. Godfrey did not report any injuries, they said.

The State Police said the investigation is ongoing and authorities expect to release more information on Wednesday.