MARCH 12, 2015
UNION TWP., NEW JERSEY
State Police have identified the driver and passenger
injured in an armored truck accident on Route 78 on yesterday, March 11.
They say Sharayah Gardner, 25, of Newark was driving the
Brinks armored truck when she apparently lost control of the vehicle and ran
off the road, hitting the pillar of the Rupell Road overpass at mile marker
14.5 at 8:58 a.m.
Passenger Fidel Martinez, 55, of Harrison received serious
injuries in the wreck and was entrapped in the car, requiring extraction by
emergency responders, according to spokesperson Sgt. First Class Gregory
Williams. Both the driver and passenger were Brinks employees, Trooper Brian
Walsh from the Perryville station said yesterday.
Trooper Stephen Kempinski is being credited by police for
helping to save Martinez's life by applying a tourniquet to his right leg and
covering Martinez with jackets in the truck. Walsh, who also responded to the
scene that morning, said the victim's right leg was broken and his head was
also bleeding after he hit a piece of metal in the truck when it crashed.
Williams noted that Kempinski "did an outstanding job," for helping
the victim.
The passenger was transported by NorthSTAR helicopter to St.
Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem and was listed in critical condition yesterday.
Williams said diesel fuel was spilled as a result of the
crash and the county Hazmat team was called in to clean it up.
He said neither the driver nor the passenger was wearing
seatbelts at the time of the accident and there were no alcohol or drugs
involved in the accident. Both lanes of Route 78 were closed during the
accident.
The truck was towed from the scene around 1:15 p.m. and the
accident was cleared at 2:20 p.m., Williams said. He added that the accident is
still under investigation.
No seatbelts, losing control of the Brinks truck because
probably going too fast: this driver is out
of luck and out of job.
Source: www.nj.com