Ridge Road Crashes Cause Delays Monday
Two crashers on Ridge Road Monday caused the roadway to be closed for two hours. The first crash took place at 7am near the Monmouth Junction Post Office. In that crash a 17 year old female was driving a 1994 Ford Mustang westbound and lost control. The Mustang crashed into a house at 646 Ridge Road and heavily damaged the home. The driver was uninjured and issued a summons for careless driving.
Police have targeted this specific area of Ridge Road for enhanced enforcement. Officers have issued 40 summonses in the past week on Ridge Road near today’s crash location. Police will continue to have enhanced presence and enforcement in the area.
The second crash was a head on crash between a car and a tractor trailer as a result of a driver texting. At 1:13pm a Pava Dama age 33 of East Windsor was driving a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta westbound when he crossed over the double yellow lines and struck an eastbound tractor trailer nearly head on. The tractor trailer, a 2008 Freightliner, was being driven by Waldemar Borkowski age 68 of East Stousburg, Pennsylvania. The crash ruptured the tractor trailer’s fuel tanks and spilled diesel fuel over the roadway. The force of the crash ripped the Volkswagen’s engine out of the car onto the roadway 20 feet away. Witnesses reported seeing the Jetta swerve all over the road as the driver was texting just prior to the crash. There were no serious injuries. Dama was issued numerous motor vehicle summonses including; careless driving, failure to maintain lane, crossing double yellow line, and use of wireless cellphone while operating a motor vehicle. Chief Raymond Hayducka said, “It is a miracle that neither driver was seriously injured or killed as a result of this driver texting. This crash was entirely preventable. I am not sure what was so critical in a text message that would allow you to take your eyes off the road and hit a tractor trailer head on.”
