4 Hurt As Truck Smashes Into Glory's Market In Jackson: Police

JACKSON, NJ — Four people were recovering from their injuries Thursday evening as authorities continue to investigate the crash of a tractor-trailer into the front of Glory's Market in Jackson, police said.

A 69-year-old man who was a customer at the market and the store's clerk, a 61-year-old woman, both remained hospitalized at a local trauma center for what officers said were serious but not life-threatening injuries, Jackson Capt. Steven Laskiewicz said.

Also injured were a 54-year-old Toms River man who was driving the tractor-trailer and a 17-year-old from Jackson.

Laskiewicz said the truck driver was treated and released. A report by News 12 New Jersey said the 17-year-old is a female; her status was unknown. The store clerk was to be released from the hospital Friday.

Laskiewicz said police were called to the scene shortly after noon for the report that the tractor-trailer had crashed into the front of the market and that at least one employee was trapped in the debris.

The 2016 Mack Truck, which was hauling powdered cement in the trailer, was southbound on Cedar Swamp Road approaching the intersection of West Commodore Boulevard, and it is believed the driver had a green signal, Laskiewicz said. At the same time, the Jackson teenager, driving a 2009 Nissan Altima, was northbound on Cedar Swamp Road and turned left onto West Commodore Boulevard into the path of the tractor trailer, he said.

The vehicles collided in the intersection and the force of the impact drove the Nissan back into the northbound lane where it hit a 2012 Honda Civic driven by a 38-year-old Plainsboro resident, he said.

The force of the impact also caused the tractor-trailer to run off the road and hit Glory's Market, making a "significant intrusion" into the building, seriously injuring the customer, who was airlifted, and the clerk.

The driver of the Honda was not injured, he said.

The building sustained serious damage and the structure had to be supported for the investigation and anf for cleanup of a fuel spill from the tractor-trailer. Video of the scene by 6ABC of Philadelphia shows the tractor-trailer sitting in the partially demolished front of the building. The cab of the truck is caught between the trailer and the building. A car with a smashed front end is nearby.

A fourth vehicle that was parked at the market but not occuped was damaged.

Laskiewicz said numerous area fire departments, EMS and emergency personnel from Ocean and Monmouth counties responded to assist at the scene and with mutual aid. The Ocean County Sheriff's Office, which put out the initial alert to keep motorists away, also assisted. The Ocean County Regional Urban Strike Team (RUST) was requested, and the Brick Technical Rescue Team, with members of Brick's fire departments and Brick's Police EMS special operations unit, responded as the northern component of the RUST team, Brick police said.

Laskiewicz said the investigation is continuing but it does not appear drugs or alcohol use were factors in the crash.

The investigation is being conducted by Police Officer Edward Travisano with assistance by Police Officer Brad Reider, Sgt. Trevor Crowley and Sgt. Richard Bosley. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash who was not interviewed on scene is asked to contact the Jackson Police Department at 732-928-1111.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com

Main photo screengrab of video by 6ABC, published with permission.