November 16, 2009
A crash early Saturday morning between a tractor-trailer and an SUV on Route 287 in Morris County, NJ ended in flames and left one man dead and another injured.
New Jersey State Police say that about 5:40 a.m. Saturday, a 1996 Ford Explorer SUV driven by Kevin V. Moriarty, 56, of Pearl River, NY, was either stopped or moving at low speed with no lights on in the center lane of northbound Route 287.
A tractor-trailer driven by Nelson Griffin, 46, of Bear, DE, swerved to avoid Moriarty’s SUV, but clipped the rear end, sending the SUV into a spin toward the left shoulder. While spinning, the SUV hit the center concrete barrier and ejected Moriarty into the southbound lanes of Route 287.
Griffin’s tractor-trailer hit the center concrete barrier and overturned, landing on the barrier and SUV. The force of the accident propelled both vehicles northward along the barrier, eventually stopping where flames engulfed them.
The Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office pronounced Kevin Moriarty dead at the scene. Montville fire and ambulance transported Nelson Griffin to Morristown Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.
Fire departments from Montville, Riverdale, Boonton and Kinnelon responded and helped put out the fire.
State Police closed northbound and southbound Route 287 and detoured traffic onto Routes 23 and 202 while they investigated and cleared the accident scene. They reopened one lane in each direction of Route 287 at 7 a.m. and reopened all lanes at 1:30 p.m.
The New Jersey State Police continue to investigate, and ask witnesses to contact the Netcong barracks at 973-347-1001.
Commercial trucking accidents can occur due to a variety of causes. On roadways occupied mostly by passenger vehicles, commercial trucking accidents can cause very severe property damage, life-threatening injuries and even death. If you are injured or a loved one killed in a trucking accident, you need to contact a personal injury attorney who is experienced in trucking accidents as soon as possible. Visit www.NBRLawFirm.com or call 1-888-529-4669 to discuss your case and find out the best course of action to ensure that you get the medical care you need and the compensation you deserve.
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One Comment
Facebook User
Sounds to me that the driver of the truck did everything he could to avoid the accident.
So most likely no charges will be filed.
Also, hopefully nobody will win a case to get damages from the driver or the company.
I feel for the mans family that died, but his insurance company owes that trucking company a truck, going by the details you posted.
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