Four Injured When Dump Truck Smashes Into Car On Route 72

by Patricia A. Miller

Charges are pending against the driver of a dump truck who crashed into a passenger vehicle on Route 72 East near Hull Drive, Capt. Thomas Dellane said.

Craig VanVliet, 51, Holland, PA, struck the back of a car driven by Amanda Lynn 30, Waretown on Nov. 9. Lynn was stopped waiting to make a left turn into a medical office building at 1616 Route 72, he said.

The tri-axle dump truck was loaded with gravel. The collision pushed Lynn‘s vehicle onto the north side of the roadway. the dump truck veered off the north side into the woods, rolled on its side and partially spilled its load, he said.

VanVliet, Lynn and her two-month-old baby sustained minor injuries from the collision and was transported to Southern Ocean Medical Center, where they were treated and later released, Dellane said.

Nelda Eberhart, 74, Waretown, suffered a moderate injury and was taken to Atlantic City Trauma, where she was treated and released, he said.

Route 72 between Breakers Drive and Hull Drive was closed for 5 hours during the investigation. Traffic was diverted through Ocean Acres. Charges are pending against VanVliet for causing the collision. The collision is under investigation by the Stafford Police Traffic Safety Unit, he said.

Lynn’s vehicle was heavily damaged by the collision. Stafford Police attribute the infant’s minor injuries due to the fact that the child was properly secured in an infant car seat located in the middle rear seat of the vehicle, Dellane said.

The dump truck also spilled several gallons of diesel fuel that was contained and cleaned up by Hazmat Teams from the Barnegat and Berkeley Township Fire Company Hazmat teams, he said.

Stafford Township Volunteer Fire and EMS, MonOC Paramedics, Barnegat and Berkeley Fire Company Hazmat Teams, the state Department of Transportation and the State Police Incident Management Team responded.

Photo credits: Stafford Township police department.