Full Notification

WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT

20 Municipal Drive * P.O. Box 38

West Windsor, New Jersey 08550

ROBERT GAROFALO PhD(c), Chief of Police

(609) 799-1222

Records Fax (609) 799-6338 * Fax (609) 897-9010

DB Fax (609) 799-6515 * Dispatch Fax (609) 799-3516

NEWS INFORMATION

INCIDENT: 2023-136117  Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision

DATE & TIME OCCURRED:   May 30, 2023 at 4:21 am 

LOCATION OCCURRED:  US Route 1 North at Washington Road (Penns Neck Circle)

WHO:  Driver #1:  Resident of Somerset, NJ 
  Passenger of Vehicle #1:  Resident of  Somerset, NJ *DECEASED*
  Passenger of Vehicle #1:  Resident of Somerset, NJ 
  Passenger of Vehicle #1:  Resident of Somerset, NJ 
  Passenger of Vehicle #1:  Resident of New Brunswick, NJ 
           
            Driver #2:  Resident of Ewing, NJ  
 
OFFICER:  Traffic Officer E. McQuade #97-Lead Investigator
      
OTHERS INVOLVED:  1)  WWPD Communications Center,
                                           Patrol Division, Traffic Unit,
                                           & Detective Bureau
                                      2)  West Windsor Division of Fire & Emergency Services Station #45
                                      3)  West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company Station #43/Fire Police
                                      4)  Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire
Company Station #44
                                      5)  Princeton Fire Company Station #60
                                      6)  Plainsboro EMS #100
                                      7)  Lawrence EMS #129
                                      8)  Princeton EMS #168
                                      9)  Trenton EMS (TEMS)
                                     10) Capital Health MICU
                                     11) Mercer County Prosecutor's Office (MCPO) Serious Collision Response Team (SCRT)

DETAILS:  On this date at 4:21 AM, the WWPD Communications detailed Patrol Units to a Serious Motor Vehicle Crash on US Route 1 North at Washington Road.  Upon Patrol's arrival, they immediately began to render first aid to the occupants of both Vehicles #1 and #2.  Vehicle #1 (2011 Honda Accord), which was embedded into trees in the AT&T parking lot, had been occupied by (5) persons and was on fire.  In should be noted (2) of the occupants were still entrapped inside of the burning car.  Vehicle #2 (2023 Kia Sorrento) was found within the Penns Neck Circle disabled from the crash and Driver #2 sustained unknown injuries.  Patrol Officers worked valiantly to free the remaining occupants of Vehicle #1.  Stations #43, #44, & #45 worked in unison to extinguish the raging fire and assist the injured parties.  In addition, Station #60, Plainsboro EMS #100, Lawrence EMS #129, Princeton EMS #168, Trenton EMS (TEMS), and Capital Health Medics arrived on scene.  Ultimately, the remaining occupants were removed from Vehicle #1.  The front seat passenger sustained life threatening injuries and all life saving efforts were being employed.  The (4) other occupants including the driver of Vehicle #1 and Driver #2 all sustained injuries which were later considered non-life threatening.  All (6) of the injured were transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for treatment.  The front seat passenger of Vehicle #1 succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.  **No identities are being released at this time.   

The initial investigation at the scene revealed the following;  Vehicle #1 was traveling east bound on Washington Road at the Penns Neck Circle (with US Route 1).  Vehicle #2 was traveling north bound on US Route 1 North.  Vehicle #1 attempted to cross all lanes of US Route 1 North & South.  Vehicle #1 collided with Vehicle #2 in the US Route 1 North lanes.  Vehicle #1 continued off of the roadway where it struck a traffic light stanchion and a street sign on the grass median (for Washington Road).  Vehicle #1 continued in a northeasterly direction, reentered the roadway, entered into the AT&T parking lot where it struck numerous trees at the back portion of the lot, and came to its final resting place on fire.  Vehicle #2 continued in a northeasterly direction and came to its final resting place facing east in the Penns Neck Circle off of US Route 1 North.  

 Washington Road between US Route 1 North and Fairview Avenue was closed for approximately (5) hours.  US Route 1 traffic was delayed in the area for the same duration.  The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office Serious Collision Response Team (MCPO SCRT)  responded to the scene to assist with the ongoing investigation.  If anyone has any pertinent information to share into this collision please contact Traffic Officer E. McQuade #97 at (609) 799-1222, our Anonymous Tipline at (609) 799-0452, or [email protected]. 

OFFICER  PREPARING RELEASE: Det. Lt. Lee #59

DATE OF RELEASE: 5/30/2023


**Please note that charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.