Dump Truck Can't Stop, Crashes Into 3 Cars, Pole In Watchung

WATCHUNG, NJ — Two people were airlifted to the hospital after a dump truck that was unable to stop crashed into three other vehicles and a utility pole on Friday near the Watchung Circle.

Glen Giacobbi, 38, of Lakewood was driving the 2000 Kenworth dump truck at around 1 p.m. coming down the hill on Hillcrest Road when he was unable to stop at the intersection of Valley Road, Watchung Police Chief Cina reported.

The truck tried to go west on Valley Road when it hit a 2007 Ford Pickup truck traveling east on Valley Road, driven by Dennis Kardos, 45, of North Plainfield, Cina said.

Kardos' truck had minor damage and he was not injured.

While trying to turn onto Valley Road the load in the dump truck shifted causing the truck to tip over and land on a 2003 Lexus sedan traveling east on Valley Road and driven by William Wong, 69, of Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Janet Wong, 66, of Berwyn, Pennsylvania was also in the car. Both were airlifted to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick with multiple injuries, Cina said.

The dump truck continued on to also partially tip onto a 2015 Mazda driven by Nicole Soisson, 27, of Somerset, who was also driving east on Valley Road when she hit the back of the Lexus. Sosson complained of pain but did not request to be transported to the hospital.

The truck then up-righted, spilled some of the gravel load before it crashed into a utility pole.

The dump truck, Lexus and Mazda were all towed from the scene. In addition to medivac from NJ State Police and Atlantic Ambulance, Watchung Police were also assisted by Watchung, Berkeley Heights, Warren and North Plainfield fire departments.

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Crash Reconstruction team assisted in the investigation and no charges have been issued.

The roadway remained closed for investigation and cleanup until 8 p.m.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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