On March 8th, 2022, at approximately 3:03 PM an officer was dispatched to the area of US Hwy 22 near the Phillips 66 Gas Station to provide traffic assistance for a tow truck operator that was attempting to remove a disabled vehicle from the center median cut-through. The officer had closed the left lane on the eastbound side of the highway so that the tow operator could safely remove the vehicle. A preliminary investigation revealed that a 2014 Cadillac Escalade being driven by Gary Vondrasek, 86, of Lebanon, NJ was traveling westbound in the left lane when it drifted into the median and struck the unoccupied disabled vehicle as well as the tow truck operator. The tow truck operator, later identified as Seth Newton, 26, of Readington Township was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the striking vehicle was given lifesaving treatment at the scene and transported to RWJ University Hospital Somerset but was pronounced dead once there. This crash remains under investigation by the Readington Township Police Department and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office Forensic Analysis Collision Team. Witnesses are encouraged to call Cpl. Wester with the Readington Township Police Department or the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office.
