UPDATE: Man, 37, In Serious Condition After Crash on I-78

UPDATED: 4 a.m. A 37-year-old man was rushed to Newark's University Medical Center by helicopter yesterday afternoon after his Honda Accord was struck head-on by a GMC Envoy SUV on I-78.

The man remains in serious condition, according to state police.

Authorities say a 27-year-old woman lost control of her SUV while driving on 78 at around 2:50 p.m. The vehicle went up a highway embankment and over the guardrail into the westbound lane, striking the Honda head-on.

The woman was treated by Summit first aid responders and later released from University Medical Center. The male driver was treated by Springfield First Aid Squad and Paramedics from Overlook Medical Center. He was flown by NorthStar, the medevac helicopter, which landed on I-78 just before 3:30 p.m. 

State police are still investigating the accident. Multiple Union County emergency units responded to the scene including the fire departments from Springfield, Summit and Berkeley Heights. Traffic was backed up on I-78 in the area of mile marker 48.6 for several hours. 

According to the Summit First Aid Squad, a second ambulance was called to the area on report of a woman in labor who happened to be stuck in a traffic jam. The call turned out to be a false alarm.State police say the road cleared up sometime around 9:30 p.m.

Original Story

UPDATED at 6 p.m. Medevac helicopter Atlantic Air 1 landed on I-78 in response to a motor vehicle accident shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Monday, March 5. The helicopter transported a victim in serious condition to University Medical Center in Newark. New Jersey State Troopers said that early reports said the accident was a head on collision.  At least one victim was reportedly extricated from the passenger door. New Jersey state police and workers from the state Department of Transportation responded to the accident site, near exit 48, along with Springfield police. Springfield police were handling traffic. Union Township ambulances were also spotted near the scene.  East and Westbound lanes on 78 were closed down entirely following the accident. The two right lanes were closed as of 5:51 p.m., according to traffic website 511nj.org. On-site reports indicate that the westbound traffic began to break up at around 4:30, but 511 is still reporting 40-45 minute delays as of just before 6 p.m.