Crime & Safety

Cops: Woman Who Stood On I-78 Struck, Killed By Truck

A 24-year-old Warren woman was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer as she stood in the left center lane of Interstate 78 east.

Julia Maolucci stood in the middle of Route 78 on Wednesday. Was she walking, or just standing?

Investigators say they’re trying to find out why.

The 24-year-old Warren, N.J. woman was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer as she stood in the left center lane of Interstate 78 east Wednesday night.

Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

It was just before 9 p.m. when Maolucci was struck by the 2011 Kenworth truck driven by Charles Michael Jr., of Irvington, near mile-marker 32.3 in Bridgewater, according to My Central Jersey.

State police told NJ.com that Maolucci’s 2014 Mercedes C350 was parked “on the grass adjacent to the right shoulder of the highway” at the time of the incident.

Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

A preliminary investigation was conducted and state police believe Maolucci may have walked across the highway into the left lane where she was fatally struck. But they’re also investigating other possibilities.

Subscribe to the Patch free daily newsletter for more local news, and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox, by clicking here.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.