A violent crash involving multiple vehicles ignited a fire and brought northbound traffic to a standstill early Tuesday on the New Jersey Turnpike, leaving eight people hurt and six hospitalized.
The wreck happened shortly after 1:30 a.m. near the Clements Bridge Road overpass, just north of Interchange 3 for Route 168. At least two of the vehicles burst into flames after the initial collision, lighting up the dark stretch of highway and sending thick smoke into the air.
New Jersey State Police, firefighters and EMS crews responded quickly and worked through the night. One person remains in critical condition. Authorities have not released the identities or ages of the victims.
Troopers combed nearby woods for hours after the crash. They have not said what they were searching for.
The fire damaged the vehicles so severely that their charred remains sat on the roadway for several hours, forcing a full shutdown of the northbound lanes. Around 6 a.m., officials reopened a single lane. Traffic inched forward past the wreckage, but congestion stretched for miles. Southbound traffic flowed freely.
As the scene in Barrington slowly cleared, another crash on the Turnpike added to the morning chaos. Around 6:15 a.m., a separate wreck occurred on the eastbound lanes near Exit 6 in Burlington County. Authorities have not confirmed any injuries or causes related to that crash.
Officials continue to investigate both incidents.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.