A SUNDAY TO FORGET IN NEW JERSEY: FROM ICE IN THE MORNING TO FLOODING IN THE EVENING TO 500 ACCIDENTS AND DEATH AND PROPERTY DAMAGE
JANUARY 18, 2015
After a morning of black ice and freezing rain causing of numerous early morning accidents — including one fatality — in Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Union counties, flooding became a major concern for Sunday's evening hours.
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly issued a flooding warning for small streams in Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon counties. At 3:54 p.m., the NWS said streams were rising steadily and while the heaviest rain already occurred, it was expected that streams wiould continue rising into the evening. Streams in Hunterdon, Somerset and Middlesex counties as well as southern Morris County were said to be the "most vulnerable."
The NWS warning was until 2 a.m. Monday.
Beginning at about 7 a.m. Sunday, several towns, including East Brunswick, Hillsborough, Linden, Edison, Bridgewater, Manville, Lebanon, Carteret, Branchburg and Montgomery, reported several motor vehicle accidents.
One occupant of a vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene of an accident on Interstate 78, near mile marker 21 in Lebanon, according to the New Jersey State Police. Authorities said two occupants were pinned in the car while the third was ejected from the vehicle and found in the road.
State Police Sgt. First Class Gregory Williams said the accident occurred at 7:20 a.m. and involved a Toyota Camry and a salt truck. The three who suffered injuries, including a woman who died at the scene, were occupants of the Camry. Two were sent to Morristown Medical Center. The driver of the salt truck was uninjured, Williams said.
A three-car accident was reported on Route 22 westbound in Bridgewater. There were several injuries and an entrapment, according to a police monitoring service.
In South Brunswick, police said that between 7 and 9 a.m., there were 18 motor vehicle accidents, with no serious injuries. That included two patrol cars that were struck by sliding vehicles at accident scenes. Also, there were five reports of people falling on ice as they walked in driveways and sidewalks, police Lt. James Ryan said.
Ryan added that while highway conditions were improving, side roads and bridges remain a danger. Dey Road in the township was closed
In Hillsborough, police said there was a high-water advisory on Millstone River Road between the Manville border and Franklin Drive. Also, Riverside Drive was closed between Mill Lane and Clawson Avenue because of flooding. In mid-afternoon, police added that Blackpoint Road Bridge was closed because of flooding.
Also in the afternoon, Old Bridge fire departments were called to the Raritan Bay Medical Center on Hospital Plaza for a report of water flooding the receiving area of the hospital. Hospital spokesperson Eric Meunch said there was a storm drainage problem at 3 p.m. and the fire department assisted in draining the area. A plumber was also called in and the situation was under control by 4:30.
Flooding also caused Cantrell Road to close between Phillips and Spring Hill roads in the township.
In East Brunswick, flooding conditions on Dunhams Corner Road and Church Lane caused the traffic flow to be reduced to one lane.
Municipal, county and state public work crews were out salting the roads all day. Road conditions started to improve as the temperature rose and the freezing rain changed to plain rain.
Several police departments put out warnings to motorists of hazardous road conditions because of extreme ice conditions on roadways and walkways. Others cautioned of black ice and freezing rain.
East Brunswick police said there were "numerous motor vehicle accidents have been reported as a result of the icy conditions." Green Brook police advised motorists to "stay off the roads if possible" as "roads within Green Brook and throughout the county are very icy and dangerous."
Bridgewater said in its advisory that the state Department of Transportation and Department of Public Works were on the roads salting.
