2 Ejected After Semi Causes Chain-Reaction Crash On I-80: NJSP

ROCKAWAY, NJ — A dump truck driver and his passenger were severely injured Friday morning after they were rear-ended by a semi truck along Route 80 and ejected from the vehicle, state police said.

A total of six vehicles were involved in the chain-reaction crash, which shut the highway for about four hours, according to officials.

Police said all six vehicles were westbound on the highway: A Chevrolet pickup truck hauling an enclosed box trailer, a Toyota passenger car, a Ford pickup truck, a Ford box truck, a GMC dump truck, and an International tractor-trailer. As traffic began to slow, the tractor-trailer hit the back of the dump truck, state police said.

According to officials, the impact caused the dump truck to strike the back of the pickup, redirecting it into the path of the box truck. The dump truck continued forward and hit the rear of the Toyota, which in turn hit the back of the Chevy trailer.

The dump truck's driver, 61-year-old Saloman Cespedes, and 44-year-old passenger Jose Cuzco-Aluiso both sustained serious injuries after being ejected from the vehicle, per State Police.

The incident was first reported at 7:37 a.m., west of Exit 35 for Mount Hope Avenue in Rockaway, state police said. All lanes had reopened to traffic by noon, per the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

New Jersey State Police are investigating the crash, and did not release any other information as of Friday afternoon.

This crash occurred about a mile from the site of three sinkholes in the highway, which have all lanes of I-80 closed and detoured at Exit 34 in Wharton.

Residents of western Morris County have been dealing with delays and increased traffic in their communities since the first sinkhole opened in December, after an abandoned mineshaft collapsed.

Another sinkhole opened in the center lane of I-80 east on Feb. 10, and the third appeared last week.

On Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy said that crews were hoping to reopen two westbound lanes by the end of the week, but NJDOT still lists all lanes as closed. Officials said the eastbound side may take another six weeks to fix.

For now, the following I-80 detours are still in place:

I-80 westbound Exit 34B detour:

• Motorists on I-80 westbound will be directed to take Exit 34B to Route 15 north/Jefferson/Sparta
• Keep left on Route 15 northbound
• Use the left two left lanes at Pondview Drive to make a U-turn onto Route 15 southbound
• Stay right to take the ramp to I-80 westbound

I-80 eastbound Exit 34 detour:

• Motorists on I-80 eastbound are being directed to take Exit 34 to Route 15/Wharton/Dover/Sparta
• At the end of the ramp, stay right following signs for Route 15/Jefferson/Dover/Sparta/Picatinny Arsenal
• Stay in the right lane on North Main Street following signs for Route 15 North/Jefferson/Sparta
• Bear right toward Route 15 northbound/Picatinny Arsenal
• At the traffic signal, merge onto Route 15 northbound
• Stay left, following signs for Pondview Drive/U and Left Turns
• Using both lanes, make a U-turn at the Pondview Drive traffic signal and merge onto Route 15 southbound
• Stay left to take the exit to I-80 eastbound

Drivers are advised to use Exit 28 to take Route 10 eastbound or Route 46 eastbound as an alternate route to avoid the area. This exit is several miles before the closure.

Route 10 eastbound alternate route:

• Motorists on I-80 eastbound are advised to take Exit 28/Route 46 eastbound to Route 10/Ledgewood/Lake Hopatcong, which is several miles before the closure
• Continue on Route 46 eastbound

• Stay right to take Route 10 eastbound
• Take the exit to I-287 northbound
• Stay right to take the ramp to I-80 eastbound

Route 46 eastbound alternate route:

• Motorists on I-80 eastbound are advised to take Exit 28/Route 46 eastbound to Route 10/Ledgewood/Lake Hopatcong, which is several miles before the closure
• Continue on Route 46 eastbound
• Stay in the two left lanes to turn left at the traffic signal to continue on Route 46 eastbound
• Turn left onto Route 15 northbound in Dover, back to I-80

Or:

• Continue on Route 46 eastbound for about 12 miles and stay left for I-80 eastbound

Residents can click here for any updates on sinkhole repairs and when this section of highway might reopen.