Tractor-Trailer Crash Disrupts Route 70 Intersection In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — A tractor-trailer crash shut down Route 70 on Friday but there were no injuries, Manchester police said.

The crash happened about 9:20 a.m. Friday when the driver, Lasaun Gibson Jr., 27, of Camden, who was headed east on Route 70, braked hard because the traffic signal at Route 539 had changed to yellow, Capt. Albert Vega said.

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The heavy braking caused the white 2019 International Tractor that was towing a trailer with two large Conex boxes to skid. Gibson was able to partially control the skid and guided the truck toward the woods, where it came to a stop after hitting multiple trees, Vega said.

The truck sustained heavy front-end damage but no other vehicles were hit at the busy intersection, he said.

Gibson, who was wearing his seat belt, did not report any injuries at the crash scene, Vega said.

Parts of the intersection were closed for about two hours while the truck and trailer were removed from the woods in what Vega said was a complex process.

Patrolman Sage Sysol is investigating the crash, and Vega said the preliminary findings were that poor weather conditions and driver inattention were believed to be the primary contributing factors to the crash.

Assisting at the scene were firefighters from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, and Priced Rite Towing.