Fatal Accident on I-78 Brings Traffic to Standstill

A fatal motor vehicle accident brought I-78 to a halt last night, 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 approximately 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.

Two Springfield fire department vehicles responded to the scene. Springfield and Union fire fighters had to cut open the car, a VW Golf, to gain access to the two people trapped inside after the crash. A Northstar medical transportation helicopter brought the 35-year-old male driver to Morristown Memorial Hospital.

The passenger was pronounced dead on the scene. 

According to an emergency responder, the truck driver was able to get out of his truck after the accident, and was taken by ambulance to a trauma center.

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

State police said they can not 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 affects lingered, with drivers having to slog through 15-minute delays when driving on the road.