Bridgewater Motorcyclist Dies After Crash With Truck Trailer In Franklin: Cops

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A motorcyclist from Bridgewater has died after crashing with a truck trailer on Monday night in Franklin Township, said police.

On June 6, 2022, at 8:23 p.m., a 911 call reported a crash on Canal Road near Elm Street to Franklin Township Police Department.

A preliminary investigation found that a 2014 Harley Davidson motorcycle, being driven by Luis Ruiz, 43, of Bridgewater, was driving northbound when it crashed with the 2019 Ford F250, being driven by Octaviano Chavez, 56, of Princeton, which was towing an enclosed trailer and driving southbound, said Franklin Police Detective Sgt. Vincent Wilson.

Ruiz was treated on scene, taken to a local area trauma center by EMS personnel, and pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m.

"We extend our condolences to the family of Mr. Luis Ruiz," said Franklin Township Public Safety
Director Quovella Maeweather.

Canal Road was closed for about four hours during the investigation of this crash.

The Franklin Township Police Department, along with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team, is conducting an ongoing investigation into the contributing factors of the crash.

Anyone with information relating to this crash investigation is asked to contact the Officer Gilbert Martinez of the Franklin Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Bureau at 732-873-5533 ext. 3194 or gilbert.martinez@franklinnj.gov.

Information can also be provided to The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team at 908-231-7100 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at
1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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