Collision On Rt. 80 In Essex County; Cops Give Driver Naloxone

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Emergency responders administered Naloxone – a drug commonly used to reverse opioid overdoses – to a Franklin man after he collided with several other cars on Route 80 in Fairfield, authorities said.

According to the Fairfield Police Department, officers responded to the westbound portion of Rt. 80 at 12:49 p.m. on Aug. 31 after getting a report about a suspected intoxicated driver weaving “all over the road.”

Before police arrived on the scene, the car – a 2017 gold Hyundai – collided with multiple other vehicles and came to a stop on the shoulder of the highway, authorities said.

Police arrived to find a 55-year-old Franklin resident slumped over the wheel and unconscious. Authorities said the man had no pulse and was “barely breathing.”

After police found 10 folds of suspected heroin in the car, they administered two doses of naloxone, a drug commonly used to reverse opioid overdoses, but which is also used in other medical situations, such as blood pressure support for septic shock.

The driver regained consciousness a short time afterwards, police said.

The West Essex First Aid Squad transported the driver to St. Joseph’s hospital in Paterson with assistance of the New Jersey State Police.

No additional information, including the driver’s identity, was available in an initial police statement.

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