I-78 Fatal Crash: Victim ID'd, Details Revealed

UNION TOWNSHIP, NJ — A fatal crash partially shut down an N.J. highway on Monday, police said.

Artak Nubaryan, 42, of Brooklyn was pronounced dead at the scene on Route 78 in Union Township, while two others were transported to an area hospital after suffering various injuries, according to police.

The crash happened in the express lanes westbound at milepost 51, just east of Exit 49 at Route 124 and Springfield Avenue, at 5:20 a.m., sending police and EMS to the scene, according to police.

The minivan driver, Nubaryan, failed to maintain control of the vehicle and then traveled into the path of the box truck where the collision occurred, police said.

Emergency personnel were still on the scene for at least three hours. Three occupants inside the box truck were transported to Overlook Hospital in Union with unspecified injuries, while the driver of the minivan was pronounced dead, officials said.

Traffic was being diverted from the express lanes to the local lanes, according to state transportation officials.

We'll have more information as it comes in.

Photograph courtesy of PIX11

Patch file photo