Three-Car 'Accordion' Accident on North Maple Ave.

Bernards Township Police and rescue squads from both Basking Ridge and Liberty Corner headed to a three-car pile up on North Maple Avenue last Friday afternoon in which the third car reportedly hit two others with occupants who told police they were heading to a game of volleyball at Southard Park.

Instead, police said, four people involved in the accident were taken to the hospital to be checked for neck and back pain following the accident, reported at 4:08 p.m. last Friday.

According to police, all three cars were heading south on North Maple, when the first two stopped to make a lefthand turn into Southard Park.

A third vehicle, driven by 25-year-old Caroline Meyers of Warren Township, apparently hit the two stopped vehicles from behind, pushing the second into the first, the police report said.

"It was a three-car accordion," said township Police Capt. Ed Byrnes.

Byrnes said the police report said that Meyers told police that her sunglasses had slipped down her nose, and after she adjusted them, she apparently realized the vehicle in front of her had stopped.

Byrnes said Meyers had been issued a summons for careless driving.

The report said that there were two occupants in the first vehicle, and three in the second, Byrnes said. All were between 19 to 26 years old, he said.

Four people complained of back and neck pain, Byrnes said. He said that both Liberty Corner and Basking Ridge first aid squads responded to the call, and transported those who said they had pain to be checked at a hospital.