Dump Truck Overturns On Route 70 After Rear-Ending SUV: Manchester PD

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Mercer County man was taken to the hospital Monday after the dump truck he was driving, carrying 39,000 pounds of sand, overturned after hitting an SUV on Route 70 on Monday morning, Manchester police said.

Joseph W. Cook, 64, of Ewing, suffered several cuts to his head and upper body as a result of the crash, Manchester Capt. Vincent Manco said. The driver of the SUV, Luis A. Cruz, 73, of Whiting, was not injured, he said.

The crash happened about 10:25 a.m. near the intersection with Beckerville Road, Manco said.

Cruz was driving east on Route 70 in a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox when he slowed down because another vehicle was trying to turn left from the eastbound lane of Route 70 onto Beckerville Road, Manco said.

As Cruz began to pass the left-turning vehicle, his SUV was hit on the rear passenger side by the dump truck driven by Cook, who also was headed east on Route 70 and had been behind the Equinox, Manco said.

The impact sent the Equinox onto the shoulder, where it came to a stop several yards farther down the road, he said.

Cook veered to the right and tried to brake, then tried to steer again to regain control of the dump truck, but it turned over on its passenger side, Manco said. Cook was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment, he said.

EMTs and firefighters with the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department Fire Police, and Accurate Towing assisted at the crash scene, Manco said.

Route 70 was partially closed during the rescue and cleanup.

Manco said Patrolman Conner Yatauro is investigating the crash, but said following too closely appears to be the contributing factor.