Truck fire, crashes slow Turnpike traffic near Goethals Bridge

ELIZABETH — A truck fire and two crashes led to big delays on the southbound New Jersey Turnpike near Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday afternoon.

A truck fire in the southbound outer lanes near Exit 13 for the Goethals Bridge blocked the shoulder about 12:20 p.m., according to State Police Trooper Gene Hong. Fire equipment blocked the right lane, creating a multi-mile delay.

Hong said two people escaped the burning truck without injury. An investigation is ongoing into the cause of the fire.

Two other crashes with 20 minutes of each other in the same area contributed to the delay as the truck fire was cleared away. One incident involved a tractor trailer and a dump truck while the second involved a Lincoln Mercury and a pick up truck. Hong said no one was injured in either incident.

Earlier in the week, a crash involving six tractor trailers and more than a dozen vehicles near Exit 10 for Route 287 in Edison closed the northbound truck lanes for two hours during Tuesday afternoon's commute.

Are you affected by Turnpike delays? Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.