Full Notification

UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE APRIL 2, 2013
INVESTIGATION ONGOING INTO FIREFIGHTER DEATH IN CLINTON TWP.
Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III is reporting that the investigation into a Hunterdon County Firefighter that was struck and killed by a vehicle on Lebanon-Stanton Road in Clinton Township is ongoing. The incident occurred on March 28th, at approximately 11:30 am. The victim, Jeffrey Scheuerer, age 35, of Raritan Township was a member of the Readington Volunteer Fire Company and was working with the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service at the time of his death.
According to Prosecutor Kearns, “Firefighter Scheuerer and other firefighters were working on a controlled burn along the shoulder of Lebanon-Stanton Road near the Round Valley Reservoir. The operation required the fire apparatus to move frequently. At the time of the crash, the firetruck was stopped and partially blocking the northbound lane of travel. The firetruck had emergency lights operating. Our preliminary investigation is indicating that Firefighter Scheuerer was operating a hose reel on the driver’s side of the firetruck and was in the southbound lane when a sudden shift in the wind brought heavy smoke into the roadway and caused a significant reduction in visibility. As this occurred, three vehicles approached the area in the northbound lanes. Because of the reduced visibility from the smoke, the drivers did not see the firetruck until the last second. The first driver took evasive action and missed hitting the firetruck and the firefighter. The second vehicle, a 2010 Jeep Liberty operated by Traci Komoroski age 52, of Lebanon, swerved into the south bound lane to avoid striking the firetruck and hit Firefighter Scheuerer. A third vehicle, a 2010 Dodge Nitro operated by Louis Acuri, Jr., age 56, of Lebanon, swerved and first struck the left rear of the firetruck and subsequently struck Komoroski’s Jeep. None of the three drivers were injured in the crash and no summonses have been issued at this time. The investigation is ongoing.”
The Prosecutor added, “This was a tragic accident and our deepest sympathies go out to Mr. Scheuerer’s family, the Readington Volunteer Fire Company; as well as Mr. Scheuerer’s colleagues in the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.”
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