Bomb Scare Caused Rt. One Lane Closures In Edison: Police

EDISON, NJ — A bomb scare forced the closure of several lanes of Route One south in Edison Friday morning, Edison police said.

An overnight bag with a wristwatch sticking out of it sparked the scare around 10 a.m. The State Police Bomb Squad used a remote controlled robot to open the bag, but found only summer clothes, flip flops, a beach towel and a watch inside of it.

Employees from the Shell gas station and 7/11 reported the bag to police, who closed off the area for around four areas as the bomb squad worked.

“From what we can determine, a forgetful motorist accidentally left this overnight bag behind while putting air in their vehicle’s tires,” Edison police chief Thomas Bryan said.

Both the gas station and the strip mall behind it were evacuated, and Route One was reduced to a single lane for about four hours, causing major traffic jams in the area.

“We took every possible precaution to ensure public safety. It may have caused a temporary inconvenience for motorists, but under different circumstances the alternative may have been worse,” Bryan said. “This incident was handled quickly, professionally and safely.”

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