Man Who Drove Off Turnpike in East Brunswick Dies

East Brunswick, NJ - The South Jersey man who drove off the New Jersey Turnpike Saturday in East Brunswick has died, New Jersey State Police confirmed to Patch.

Samuel Harding, 48, was pronounced dead at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, said Sgt. First Class Gregory Williams of the State Police.

He is from Easthampton Township in South Jersey and his family has been notified of his death, Williams said.

Harding was driving a 2007 Nissan Murano at 3:53 p.m. Saturday on the northbound section of the Turnpike, when he veered across several lanes of traffic, broke through the guardrail and drove off the Turnpike, sliding down a grassy embankment, Williams said. The car overturned as it slid down, and struck several trees at the bottom of the embankment. Harding was ejected from the Nissan.

The vehicle finally came to a stop, landing on Tices Lane in East Brunswick. He was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson, where he was listen in extremely critical condition Saturday, but eventually succumbed to his injuries.

What exactly caused Harding to veer off the Turnpike and crash remains under investigation as of Monday morning, Williams said.

The accident shut down traffic between Elkins Road and Ryders Lane on Tices Lane Saturday in East Brunswick.

Photo from the accident scene Saturday.