Woman, Child Hospitalized After Tree Falls Across Route 22 Sparking Fire In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — A woman and a child were hospitalized after a tree unexpectedly fell across Route 22 East, rendering both directions of the highway impassable on Sunday night, said Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro.

On March 9 at around 6:13 p.m., a vehicle was driving east on the highway(directly in front of 8 and 8A Route 22 East) and crashed with the tree after it fell across the roadway, said Battiloro.

The driver (an adult woman) and passenger (a female child) of the vehicle were both taken to Overlook Medical Center by the Mountainside Rescue Squad, but neither sustained any serious injury.

The tree also took down electrical transmission wires along the roadway, which were burning, and subsequently caused brush to ignite and burn, said Battiloro.

Route 22 was closed in both directions until it could be cleared by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

The westbound lanes of travel were re-opened at about 9:30 p.m. One eastbound land was re-opened about an hour later at 10:42 p.m.

PSE&G remained on the scene thereafter to make the necessary repairs.

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