1 Construction Worker Dead, Multiple Hurt After Tragic Vehicle Collision In South Jersey: A fatal crash shut down the White Horse Pike in South Jersey on Wednesday morning, leading to a tragic scene involving multiple utility workers from New Jersey American Water. The crash occurred around 9:45 a.m., officials reported, resulting in the death of one worker at the site. “Four New Jersey American Water employees were installing a meter pit when a third-party vehicle entered the work area, causing an accident on the work site,” a utility spokesperson, Denise Venuti Free, told the Courier-Post.
According to investigators, the incident began when a driver lost control of her vehicle, hitting a parking curb and a bush before careening into the work zone. The vehicle struck the utility workers and then collided with two other vehicles in the left lane of the White Horse Pike, one heading north and the other south. The northbound lane of the pike was already designated as an active work zone at the time of the crash. KYW News Radio reported that the driver was an elderly woman. She and the other two motorists involved were transported to Jefferson Hospital in Stratford with minor injuries.
The aftermath of the crash was grim: one utility worker was pronounced dead at the scene, another male worker was transported to Cooper University Hospital in critical condition, while two others suffered minor injuries and were taken to Jefferson Hospital. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an investigation into the incident. A spokesperson for OSHA stated that the agency has six months to complete its investigation and release its findings. The crash happened near the intersection with Ashland Avenue, leading to a closure of the pike between Warwick and Evesham roads for a police investigation.
Emergency crews were seen spraying down the roads, with onlookers, likely including relatives of the utility workers, watching the aftermath unfold near Produce Junction and Colombo Liquors. Traffic on the White Horse Pike was significantly impacted, with vehicles being redirected to alternate routes as police managed the scene and cleared the road. This tragic event underscores the dangers faced by utility workers and highlights the importance of road safety, particularly in active work zones. The investigation will seek to determine the exact causes and any measures that could prevent such incidents in the future.
