CLINTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (October 21, 2025) — Two people were injured Tuesday morning in a crash that included a tractor-trailer and two smaller vehicles on Interstate 78 in Clinton Township, prompting an emergency airlift and heavy traffic delays.
Accident Details: The crash happened around 9:11 a.m. in the westbound lanes near milepost 16.4, according to New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron. The vehicles involved were identified as a Volvo tractor-trailer, a Mazda passenger car, and a Ford van.
The Mazda driver was flown to a nearby hospital with moderate injuries, while the van driver was taken to a local facility with minor wounds. The operator of the tractor-trailer did not report any injuries.
Emergency crews closed several lanes while tending to the victims and removing wreckage from the roadway. Traffic slowed to a crawl for several miles before all lanes were reopened later that morning. Motorists in the area described long backups and a heavy presence of police and fire crews directing vehicles through narrow openings between crash debris.
Investigation: State troopers are reviewing roadway evidence and speaking with witnesses to understand how the impact occurred. They are looking at speed, vehicle spacing, and lane movement in the minutes before contact. No citations or arrests have been announced, and officials said the investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities are also expected to consider visibility and roadway layout in that section of I-78, as well as any reports of mechanical issues from the vehicles involved. Witness accounts suggest at least one vehicle may have drifted before the first point of impact, though this detail has not been confirmed by state police.
Legal Considerations: Tractor-trailers bring added risk on busy highways due to their size, weight, and braking distance. Investigators will assess how the truck interacted with surrounding traffic and whether other drivers had room to adjust before contact occurred.
When a commercial vehicle is part of a crash, attention may extend to company maintenance logs, cargo weight, and driver scheduling to determine compliance with transportation safety rules. These findings help establish who may be responsible and how damages are assessed among those involved.
Injured drivers and passengers often face long recovery periods, medical expenses, and lost wages while insurance reviews take place. The ongoing investigation along I-78 may also prompt further study of that corridor’s safety features to reduce the likelihood of similar wrecks in the future.
We send our best wishes to those recovering and hope for their continued healing.
Source: My Central Jersey