There was a tragic crash shortly after 12:30 p.m. today on northbound Rt. 287 near the New York border. A tractor-trailer carrying a load of bricks struck the side of a disabled concrete truck that was being worked on in the right shoulder of the road. Two repair workers and the driver, all from the concrete company, were struck and killed while they were outside of the truck.

A silver Toyota Avalon was also struck by the tractor-trailer and remained in contact with the front of the tractor as it ended up on the right shoulder well ahead of the cement truck. Both of those vehicles caught fire and received heavy damage before being extinguished. The husband and wife in the Toyota and the driver of the tractor-trailer all escaped before the fire engulfed the cab. They received minor injuries and were treated at two local hospitals.

The investigation is still in the early stages and next of kin for the deceased have not been notified. The NJ State Police tells YWN that further information regarding the companies and individuals involved may be released on Wednesday, but those identities are being withheld for now until further interviews are conducted. The major part of the investigation will likely take weeks to complete.

In addition to the New Jersey State Police Totowa Station personnel, Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Medical Examiner’s Office, and the National Transportation Safety Board are assisting in the investigation. The New Jersey Department of Transportation and Mahwah Police Department assisted at the scene and with traffic diversions.

(YWN Desk – NYC)