Driver Killed After Truck Slams N.J. Overpass, Shutting Down I-78

One person was killed in a truck crash and fire that shut down a section of a major New Jersey highway on Thursday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The driver of a tractor trailer lost control on I-78 Thursday morning and slammed into an overpass, according to the State Police.

Interstate 78 eastbound was closed after the accident involving at least two trucks happened west of Exit 24 at Route 523 / Oldwick Road, according to state officials.

State Police withheld identification of the driver, pending next-of-kin notification.

All lanes were closed at milepost 24, with a fuel spill, according to State Police.

The accident happened around 7:25 a.m., and delays were expected to stretch eight miles, near road's intersection with Route 22.

Two lanes on the westbound side of I-78 were closed with delays of up to 20 minutes. Westbound traffic was backed up about 2 miles, according to authorities.

The accident apparently involved a tractor-trailer and a box truck, and one of the vehicles struck a bridge abutment.