A fatal accident at the intersection of Lake Drive and North Brunswick Pike killed a Trenton resident around 3:08 p.m. on July 17. A truck, owned by a Pemberton freight company, hit and moved the car 200 feet and into a lake.
The 59-year-old driver of a Nissan Altima was stopped at the traffic light. A witness, who was also at the light, said the Nissan was next to her on Brunswick Pike in the outer lane. She saw the dump truck moving quickly through the intersection, and she stopped, but the truck allegedly hit the Nissan and pushed it into the water, she said.
According to the Lawrence police, the truck landed on top of the car in four to five feet of water, and special equipment was needed to lift the truck from the Nissan where the Altima driver was trapped. He died at the scene. The 38-year-old driver of the truck, from Westampton, was transported to the hospital for injuries. He faces charges of death by auto and was taken into custody with bail of $250,000. An investigation into the accident is ongoing at this time.
Truck accidents are dangerous to passenger vehicles due to their size, weight and inability to stop. As in this case, a truck driver, aware of his vehicle, should take proper precautions when heading into an intersection. Not stopping at a red light may result in another's death, and a driver, trained in operating a commercial vehicle, may be considered liable.