Trucker Cared For Woman After He Hit Her. Then Another Car Came.

A trucker was waiting for help after his vehicle struck a woman's car. Then another came, and the woman's car was struck again, police said.

The woman, Nilda Ortiz, 73, of Roselle, was then pronounced dead following the 2:45 a.m. Sunday crash on the turnpike in the Linden area, police said.

Ortiz was driving a Toyota Camry southbound in the turnpike's truck lanes when she stopped in the right lane. The tractor-trailer then struck the rear of her car, police said.

Arno Froehlich of New Brunswick, Canada, the driver of the tractor-trailer, stayed at the scene of the accident until authorities arrived, police said. A Jeep Wrangler then hit Ortiz's car.

Ortiz was pronounced dead at the scene while Froehlich sustained moderate injuries, police said. The Jeep driver then stayed and waited for the police.

The right lanes of the turnpike were closed for seven hours after the crash, police said.

Patch photo