A chaotic scene unfolded late Wednesday morning when a massive dump truck lost control and overturned near the entrance of the Ocean County Landfill, sending first responders scrambling to the site and forcing partial road closures.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:48 a.m. at the intersection of Route 70 and Green Acres Road. When officers from the Manchester Township Police Department arrived, they found a black 2004 Mack dump truck toppled onto its passenger side, its cargo scattered across the roadway.
According to investigators, the dump truck—operated by 65-year-old David Santana of Point Pleasant, NJ—had been traveling westbound on Route 70 at an excessive speed. As he attempted to make a left turn into the Ocean County Landfill, Santana hit the brakes in an effort to slow down. But the force of the turn, combined with his speed, proved too much to control.
Within seconds, the massive vehicle lurched, tipped, and crashed onto its side, coming to a grinding halt near the intersection.
Santana sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the crash and was transported to Ocean Medical Center via ambulance for treatment and evaluation.
As emergency personnel worked to clear the wreckage, portions of Route 70 were temporarily closed, causing significant traffic disruptions. Firefighters, EMTs, and towing crews worked in unison to secure the scene and remove the overturned truck.
A rapid response effort was launched, with emergency crews from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services, Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, Priced Rite Towing, Accurate Towing, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation all converging on the crash site.
Investigators from the Manchester Township Traffic Safety Unit, led by Patrolman Brendan Brush, are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash. However, unsafe speed has been identified as the primary contributing factor.
