UPDATE: Single-car Wreck Snarls Rte. 78 Traffic

Updated 10/1, 12:20 p.m.

A pregnant woman had to be pulled from her car late Thursday morning after an accident on the rain-slicked eastbound local lanes of Route 78 in Springfield. The highway was closed for over an hour as emergency services from throughout the region responded to the scene. 

A representative from the Springfield police said the victim was in critical condition as of Friday morning. Police have not released the woman's identity. 

An EMT who responded to the scene said the woman lost control of the blue Honda Civic, which spun out into the woods and collided with several trees. The driver's-side door was slammed into a v-shape by the impact, pinning the driver to the seat. 

Springfield Fire Chief James Sanford said that at 10:35 a.m., three township fire emergency vehicles responded to reports of an vehicle that had run off the road by milepost 49.3 on 78. Springfield units were assisted by the Summit Fire Department.

The Springfield Fire Department took the roof off of the vehicle with a "jaws of life" apparatus. Emergency responders were able to remove the woman from the car after about 30 minutes. While they worked and during the subsequent investigation, traffic was backed up for more than a half-mile. 

The Springfield First Aid Squad and Atlantic Healthcare Paramedics transported the victim to Morristown Memorial. According to reports, the woman sustained injuries to her legs in the accident. State police said they were not able to comment on her condition. An emergency communication report during the early stages of the investigation mistakenly stated that the driver had died. 

A mutual-aid task force from Union Township and Westfield covered Springfield Fire Headquarters during the extended operation.

State and local police directed traffic away from the accident scene, near the off ramp to Shunpike Ave., and towards express lanes.