Route 80 accident, fuel spill causes Monday afternoon traffic nightmare

An accident and fuel spill created a  tough drive on Route 80  in Morris County on Monday afternoon that could last through the afternoon commute.

A tractor trailer hauling a load of 43,000 pounds of paper collided with a Ford F250 pickup truck on the westbound side near Exit 35 just before noon at Mt. Hope Road and the Rockaway Townsquare Mall in Rockaway, closing down three of the four lanes, according to State Police spokesman Lawrence Peele.

The tractor trailer was leaking fuel but a hazmat crew had not arrived at the accident scene as of 1:45 p.m., according to Peele, who said their work could take several hours to complete. Westbound delays started at Route 46 in Denville as of 2 p.m., according to New Jersey Fast Traffic's Bob Williams.

"You have some options to avoid the delay on Route 80. Get off at Exit 39 and get on Route 46 west or get onto 287 south and take Route 10 west," said Williams.