Gloucester Township Police Media Release- GTPD Investigate Motor Vehicle Crash Involving Overturned Hydraulic Crane Truck
On Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at approximately 1:34 pm Gloucester Township Police were dispatched to Little Gloucester Road in the area of Golfview Drive for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving an overturned tractor trailer with a vehicle into a tree and utility pole down.
Arriving Officers from the Traffic Safety Unit located a 60-ton hydraulic crane truck laying on the driver's side, across the roadway blocking traffic. The second vehicle involved, a 2015 Toyota Camry, was located off the roadway against a tree with airbags deployed. The drivers of both vehicles were able to self-extricate prior to arrival of emergency services. Firefighters from Gloucester Twp. Squad 88, Chews Landing Fire Department and Blackwood Fire Company arrived to stabilize the vehicles while Inspira EMS & Ground Transport BLS conducted a medical assessment of the drivers of both vehicles who were presenting minor injuries. Both drivers were transported to Jefferson Stratford for evaluation and treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Initial investigation revealed that the hydraulic crane truck, owned by Dobbs Crane Rental, was traveling northbound on Little Gloucester Road when a section of the "swingaway extension arm" became dislodged from the crane and struck a utility line brace pole. After taking the brace pole down, it appears the extension arm became stuck into the ground as the vehicle momentum continued forward, ultimately causing the crane truck to overturn onto the driver's side, across both travel lanes. As this occurred, the Toyota Camry was traveling southbound and the driver quickly steered the vehicle to the right to avoid colliding with the crane. This caused the vehicle to travel off road, up a hill and into a tree.
Little Gloucester Rd was closed for approximately five hours as heavy duty tow trucks responded to upright the hydraulic crane truck and clean up the roadway. This investigation is ongoing by members of the Traffic Safety Unit. If anyone witnessed this crash, please contact the Gloucester Township Police Department at (856) 228-4500 or call our GTPD Anonymous Crime Tip Line at (856) 842-5560. To send an Anonymous Tip via Text Message to Gloucester Township Police, text the keyword "TIP GLOTWPPD" and your tip message to 888777. You may also visit our Anonymous Web Tip Page: https://local.nixle.com/tip/alert/5170177
Driver 1: Christopher Thompson – Pedricktown, NJ
Driver 2: Michelle Eahart – Blackwood, NJ
