Union Co. Man Walking In Middle Of Route 22 Hit, Killed By Van: Police

BRANCHBURG, NJ — A Union County man walking in the middle of Route 22 was fatally hit by a van on Wednesday night in Branchburg, said authorities.

At around 8:30 p.m., the Branchburg Police Department was called to a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on Route 22 West past France Drive.

An initial on-scene investigation found that a white Ford Econoline van was driving westbound in the left lane on Route 22 adjacent to the Red Mill Inn.

The driver and occupant of the Ford van both reported that the pedestrian was walking in the middle of the highway wearing dark clothing before the crash, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Branchburg Township Chief of Police Richard Buck.

The pedestrian, a 48-year-old man from Plainfield, was found lying face down in the grass median of Route 22 severely injured, said authorities.

Branchburg Police immediately administered medical aid to the pedestrian until Branchburg Rescue Squad EMS arrived.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Paramedics, North Branch Fire, Readington Police, Bridgewater Police, and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office also came to help.

New Jersey State Police North Star MedEvac was initially called to help take the pedestrian to the hospital, however, EMS/Paramedics ultimately took the pedestrian to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset via ambulance where he was later pronounced dead as a result of the injuries sustained from the crash, said McDonald.

The pedestrian’s name is being withheld from this press release at this time out of respect for the privacy of his family and loved ones.

The driver and occupant of the Ford van, a 60-year-old man and a 21-year-old man both from Whitehouse Station, did not report any injuries and refused medical attention.

Due to the severity of the crash, Route 22 West was closed from France Drive through County Line Road. Route 22 East from Readington Township into Branchburg was also closed briefly so that first responders could assess the situation.

Further investigation into the crash remains ongoing by Branchburg Police and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) at this time.

Anyone with information relating to this crash is asked to contact the Branchburg Police Department at (908) 526-3830 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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