Two Killed In Plumsted Crash When Lexus Collides With Dump Truck

PLUMSTED TOWNSHIP, NJ - Two women died on Route 539 when the Lexus SUV they were riding in collided with a Mack dump truck carrying 20 tons of sand, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

When Plumsted police arrived at 10:50 a.m. on April 23, they found the overturned dump truck in a field along Route 539 and the Lexus with extensive driver side damage in the roadway, spokesman Al Della Fave said.

The Lexus driver, Nancy Harris, 79, of Newtown, PA and passenger Helen Conover, 84, of Hamilton, NJ were pronounced dead at the scene, Della Fave said.

The dump truck driver, James Bevacqua, 58, Little Egg Harbor, was taken to Deborah Heart and Lung Center with minor back pain.

Bevacqua was traveling northbound on Route 539. As he approached the intersection of Woodruff Road, the Lexus made a left turn onto Route 539 to head south and went into the path of the dump truck. The driver's side of the Lexus was struck by the Mack truck, Della Fave said.

Route 539 was closed for the accident investigation and roadway cleanup from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., which caused extensive traffic delays, he said.

The accident is under investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Fatal Accident Investigations Unit and Plumsted Township police.

Photo: Courtesy of Shutterstock