PHOTOS: 3 NJ State Police Cars Smashed In Rt. 80 Crash

ALLAMUCHY, NJ - A crash on Route 80 in Allamuchy saw three New Jersey State Police vehicles totaled after a tow truck crashed into them Thursday night, authorities said.

The crash took place at around 11:10 p.m. near mile marker 17.4 while state police were already responding to another incident, the Allamuchy Fire Department said in a statement Friday.

The first incident, which took place nearly a half hour before, involved a two-vehicle crash, the fire department said.

While operating on the scene, a heavy duty “rotator” tow truck towing a refrigerated box truck crashed into the active scene, officials said.

“Every first responder is taught to watch their back on the roadway and to never turn your back to traffic,” the fire department said. “We see it all the time on television and social media of it happening across the country, but we never imagine it will happen so close to home.”

Multiple New Jersey State Police vehicles received “significant damage;” a BLS unit and firetruck were damaged as well. No first responders were injured in the crash, officials said.

“By a miracle, every member from Fire, EMS, and police walked away last night and returned home to their families safely,” the department said.

The driver of the truck, who also was not injured, was issued a summons for careless driving, several media outlets reported.

The crash is still under investigation.