Submitted by New Jersey Truck Crash Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark

NJ Turnpike closed by overturned tanker, fire

BORDENTOWN — An overturned truck and fire shutdown a section of the New Jersey Turnpike on Sunday.

A photo submitted by a New Jersey 101.5 listener showed thick black smoke billowing into the air from the fire and a tanker truck on its side that crushed the guardrail on both the inner outer northbound lanes between Exit 7 for Route 206 and Exit 7A for Route 195.

State Police spokesman Trooper Alejandro Goez said the tanker was carrying a load of liquid asphalt and overturned around 11:55 a.m.  No other vehicles were involved, and the driver escaped the burning tanker uninjured, according to Goez

Both the inner and outer lanes were closed as fire crews extinguished the blaze. Drivers stuck in the delay were getting out of their cars and walking around on the roadway. Brooke Avery was heading south but saw traffic backed up for “miles and miles and out walking around.”

Everyone had to get back in their cars around 1:30 p.m. when the left lane of the inner lanes and right lane of the southbound lanes were reopened to those trapped in the delay.

All northbound traffic was being diverted off at Exit 4 in Mt. Laurel where drivers can easily get onto Route 295, continue north to Route 195 and rejoin the New Jersey Turnpike.

Delays also developed approaching the forced closure point.