By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Friday, September 14, 1990
The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star | NEWS | Page B03
Two motorists were hospitalized and a section of Route 208 in Franklin Lakes was closed for more than four hours Thursday morning after a rush-hour accident.
Police said a rear-end collision between two cars in a northbound lane sent one of the cars careening into two vehicles in the southbound lanes.
Franklin Lakes traffic officer William Colligan said the accident occurred at about 7:15 a.m. He described the scene as a “mess.”
“Route 208 is a major highway and it occurred at rush hour, so you can imagine how backed up traffic was,” Colligan said. “But we had sufficient police to divert the traffic to county roads” and get motorists “to where they wanted to go.”
Three of the four drivers were injured, and two were hospitalized.
Carl Bayer, 47, of Ringwood suffered multiple fractures and was in stable condition at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, and Frank Miller, 22, of Dumont was in good condition at Hackensack Medical Center with minor injuries.
A 26-year-old woman police did not identify was treated at The Valley Hospital and released. The fourth motorist, George Frey, 34, of Hewitt, was not hurt.
Authorities said the woman was driving a Chevette that struck Miller’s Lincoln Continental as it was traveling north near Ewing Avenue.
The Lincoln went across the grassy median, struck Bayer’s Ford Thunderbird, spun around, and was struck by Frey’s Chevrolet Blazer.
Colligan said Route 208 around the Ewing Avenue exit was closed to traffic until 11:30 a.m. so investigators could gather evidence.
Two police officers from Oakland, three from Wyckoff, and members of the Bergen County Police Department helped divert traffic.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the county police, and the Franklin Lakes detective bureau are investigating.
Colligan said that although investigations were still at a preliminary stage, he did not expect criminal charges or summonses to be issued.
Caption: PHOTO – PETER MONSEES / THE RECORD – Wreckage blocking the southbound lanes of Route 208 in Franklin Lakes on Thursday. Three of the four drivers involved were injured.
ID: 17315880 | Copyright © 1990, The Record (New Jersey)
Leave a Reply