State Trooper Ejected In NJ Turnpike Crash, Thrown 30 Feet

CRANBURY, NJ — A New Jersey State Police trooper was injured Monday morning after he was ejected 30 feet through his front windshield in a crash on the Jersey Turnpike in Cranbury that Gov. Phil Murphy called "horrific."

Miraculously, the unnamed state trooper survived the crash and his injuries are not expected to be life threatening.

"That accident — If you have not seen the pictures of that troop car, how that trooper lived is unbelievable," Colonel Patrick Callahan, head of the New Jersey State Police, said Monday in the governor's daily coronavirus briefing. "He was actually ejected through the front windshield and thrown approximately thirty feet. Which, believe it or not, we think is what saved his life."

The trooper was involved in a collision with a dump truck on the Turnpike southbound at mile marker 70.7, in Cranbury Township. The trooper, whose name was not given, was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

"He has serious injuries but we do think he's going to be OK," said Callahan in the daily press briefing.

At 6:59 a.m., a State Police Chevy Tahoe was stopped behind a Porsche Boxster on the right shoulder of the inner roadway southbound at milepost 70.7, said police. The trooper was seated in the driver seat of the marked Troop Car with the overhead lights activated.

Police say a Ford dump truck was traveling southbound on the Turnpike when it struck the left metal guardrail and continued onto the inner roadway. The Ford dump truck continued south, struck and overrode the Troop Car, overturned, and struck the Porsche.

The impact of being hit is what ejected the state trooper from his SUV, which was completely demolished in the crash.

The trooper, driver of the dump truck, and the driver of the Porsche all sustained moderate injuries and were transported to an area hospital. There were no other occupants in the three vehicles. The inner roadway was closed for approximately six hours.

The union that represents the State Police said the trooper was alert and conscious at the hospital and undergoing tests.

Col. Callahan said the crash is "a good reminder" about the move-over law in the state of New Jersey, which requires drivers to move over — if they safely can do so — if they see a police vehicle stopped on the side of the road.

Our Trooper involved in this morning’s terrible Turnpike crash is currently alert and conscious. He is at a local hospital and having tests done now. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers!! pic.twitter.com/oxldi2Kw4J
— State Troopers Fraternal Association of NJ (STFA) (@STFA_NJ) June" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/STFA_NJ/st... 22, 2020