Fatal Crash Brings I-78 to Standstill Tuesday

A fatal motor vehicle accident brought I-78 to a halt early Tuesday morning, closing the Westbound express lanes of the highway for hours as emergency services reportedly dealt with a driver found dead on the scene. 

New Jersey State police said the accident occurred at about 2:30 a.m., after a car driving the wrong way on the westbound side of the highway collided with a tractor trailer near exit 49 in Springfield.

Two Springfield Fire Department vehicles responded to the scene. Springfield and Union firefighters had to cut open the car, a VW Golf, to gain access to the two occupants trapped inside. A Northstar medical transportation helicopter brought the 35-year-old male driver to Morristown Memorial Hospital.

The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. 

According to an emergency responder, the truck driver was able to walk out of his vehicle after the accident. He was transported by ambulance to a trauma center.

Springfield firefighters remained on scene after the accident to contain a fuel spill from the tractor trailer.

State police said they cannot yet release the identity of the deceased. No details about the causes of the accident have been made available. 

All lanes were clear as of 7 a.m., but the effects of the closure lingered, with drivers having to slog through 15-minute delays through most of the morning rush hour.