Truck Driver Reaching For Dog Caused Rt. 1 Crash

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A 65-year-old truck driver reaching for her dog is what caused a tractor trailer to turn on its side on Rt. 1 Wednesday, shutting down all lanes of Rt. 1 north for hours and affecting the Thursday morning commute.

The crash happened at 11:12 p.m. Wednesday, May 30 on Rt. 1 north near the Ridge Road intersection in South Brunswick: When police got there, they found a red 2011 tractor trailer overturned in the middle of Rt. 1; it had brought down several electric wires with it.

The driver was identified as Delores Leger, 65, of Florida City, Florida. Officer Sean Roberts investigated the crash and was able to determine that Leger was traveling north on Rt. 1 when she took her eyes off the roadway to grab one of her dogs that jumped off the seat and onto the floor.

The tractor trailer then swerved to the left, into a work zone, and struck some "road closed" barricades and signs. Leger attempted to turn back to her right and went off of the roadway, where the tractor trailer struck a tree and utility pole. The tractor trailer then re-entered the roadway, rolled over, and came to a rest on the passenger side of the tractor trailer.

The driver suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash and was transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

The damage caused by her knocking down the utility police caused numerous power outages to nearby traffic lights. PSE&G was doing repairs and Rt. 1 north was not passable until after 6 a.m., which caused delays to Thursday's early morning commute.

Leger was issued summonses for careless driving and unsafe lane change as a result of the crash. Her dogs were not harmed as a result of the crash and were later reunited with her.

Photos from the crash scene supplied by South Brunswick police.