Rockaway, NJ (March 29, 2025) – Two men were seriously injured Friday morning when a semi-truck caused a chain-reaction crash involving six vehicles along westbound I-80 near Exit 35 in Rockaway, according to New Jersey State Police.
Accident Details: The crash occurred around 7:37 a.m. as traffic began to slow near the 3700 block of Route 80, west of Mount Hope Avenue. A tractor-trailer rear-ended a GMC dump truck, ejecting both occupants from the vehicle. The dump truck, driven by 61-year-old Saloman Cespedes, was carrying 44-year-old passenger Jose Cuzco-Aluiso. Both men sustained serious injuries and were transported to the hospital.
The impact caused a chain reaction involving four additional vehicles, including a Chevrolet pickup with a trailer, a Toyota sedan, a Ford pickup, and a Ford box truck. The tractor-trailer and dump truck sustained the most significant damage. Other drivers were not reported injured.
Legal Considerations: Rear-end crashes involving commercial trucks often raise questions about driver attentiveness, speed, and braking distance. In this case, investigators may evaluate whether the semi-truck was following too closely or failed to respond to traffic conditions in time.
If determined to be at fault, the trucking company could face liability for the victims’ medical costs, lost wages, and long-term recovery needs. Cespedes and Cuzco-Aluiso may have grounds to pursue claims related to the truck driver’s negligence and the resulting harm.
Ongoing Investigation: New Jersey State Police are continuing to investigate the crash. No charges or citations have been announced as of Friday evening. The westbound lanes of I-80 were closed for approximately four hours during the investigation and cleanup. The crash occurred roughly a mile from the site of ongoing sinkhole-related roadwork that has caused major traffic disruptions in the area.
I wish both Saloman Cespedes and Jose Cuzco-Aluiso strength and a full recovery in the days ahead.
Source: Patch – Parsippany