Breaking News: Tractor Trailer Accident Prompts Temporary Closure of Parts of South Avenue

Anyone trying to come down South Avenue near the Hetfield Avenue Bridge right now will have to take a detour. A "wide-load" tractor trailer accident on the bridge this afternoon has prompted police and fire to temporarily shut down the bridge and parts of South Avenue. Traffic barricades have been placed on the part of South Avenue just north of downtown Fanwood.

Lt. Brian Donnelly of the Scotch Plains Police Department said the vehicle was trying to go over the bridge when its cargo came loose from the trailer, spilling out onto the roadway, and causing the tractor to flip on its side.

"South Avenue is shut down because it was a heavy-type cargo and we've got to get a crane from up in North Jersey to upload it onto a new truck," Donnelly said.

Parts of South Avenue are temporarily closed until the crane can remove the trailer from the scene, Donnelly said.