Crime & Safety
Driver Dies After Striking Another Car, Hitting Tree Along NJ Highway: Officials
State police said the 41-year-old van driver rear-ended another vehicle, then veered off the highway and hit a tree.
WAYNE, NJ — State Police said a driver died along Route 80 westbound in Wayne on Monday morning after rear-ending another vehicle and running off the road.
The crash happened shortly before 11 a.m. near milepost 53.8, officials said. According to troopers' initial investigation, the driver of a Ford Econoline van was traveling westbound when he struck the back of a Honda passenger car, veered off the road to the right and went down an embankment, the hit a tree.
Officials said the Ford driver, identified as 41-year-old Namon Melvin of Orange, was fatally injured. State Police did not say if the other driver was hurt.
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Several lanes of the highway were closed throughout the late morning and into the afternoon while emergency responders investigated the crash.
The investigation continues, and state police did not release any further information as of Tuesday morning.
Find out what's happening in Waynefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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