A devastating multi-vehicle crash brought chaos to Route 70 and Airport Road early Friday morning after a wrong-way driver, reportedly speeding at over 100 mph, caused a catastrophic collision.
Emergency responders, including Hatzolah, rushed to the scene of the mass-casualty accident, which involved three vehicles. The impact left several occupants trapped in their mangled cars, requiring extrication.
One advanced life support (ALS) patient was flown to a trauma center, while another seriously injured victim was transported by Hatzolah to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. A third seriously injured patient was rushed to Ocean Medical Center, and a fourth patient with minor burns was taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus.
Authorities shut down Route 70 eastbound from New Hampshire Avenue to Airport Road, causing heavy traffic delays as Traffic & Safety units launched an investigation into the horrifying wreck. The busy Friday morning commute ground to a halt as law enforcement and emergency personnel worked through the wreckage.
The extent of the wrong-way driver’s injuries was not immediately clear.
Motorists were urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes as authorities remained at the scene, piecing together the chain of events that led to this shocking crash.