Victim ID'd In Fatal I-78 Crash In Berkeley Heights

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ — A Pennsylvania man was identified as the fatal victim of a four-vehicle crash involving a dump truck on I-78 in Berkeley Heights Thursday.

Donald Desmond, 53, of Easton was identified as the fatal victim, New Jersey State Police Tpr. Alejandro Goez reported.

The crash was reported at 2:46 p.m. on Thursday when a driver of a dump truck going east on I-78 lost control at mile post 43.6 in Berkeley Heights.

The truck hit the concrete median barrier and crossed over into the westbound lanes where it crashed into three vehicles — a 2015 Nissan Altima, a 2013 Nissan Altima and a Ford Taurus.

Desmond who was driving the 2015 Altima was pronounced dead at the scene, Goez said.

The dump truck driver suffered moderate injuries and the drivers of the 2013 Altima and Taurus also suffered minor injuries.

All lanes of I-78 west were closed for about eight hours and the left, center, and right lanes of I-78 east were closed for about three hours resulting in heavy traffic congestion on Thursday.

The cause and circumstance of the crash still remain under investigation, Goez said.

No summonses have been issued at this time.

• See Related: Fatality Confirmed In I-78 Crash In Berkeley Heights

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