RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ — One person was seriously injured after an accident that happened in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey on Tuesday, August 19th, 2014, according to the accident report from NJ Online.
Police say that Lawrence Scherf was seriously hurt when the tractor-trailer he was driving left the road and dangled over Overpeck Creek just off the New Jersey Turnpike around 5:30 Tuesday morning. The truck burst into flames after the accident.
Authorities say that Lawrence Sherf was taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to the burn center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center where he was being treated.
The New Jersey State Police are helping local officials with the accident investigation.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary:
With this particular accident, getting a good, solid look at the tractor-trailer wreckage is going to tell us the most about what may have happened. You may be surprised to learn, as many are, that tractor-trailers and commercial trucks in general are not built with a high degree of safety in mind. Many trucks even have their gas tanks mounted on the outside of the vehicle, often times just feet below the driver’s step side below the doorjamb. If the truck hopped the concrete barrier, and the barrier punctured the gas tank, the trucks manufacturerer could be held liable for the accident.
On the other hand, if the truck driver was simply not paying attention to the road, there may not be much that can be done from his standpoint. Either way, this needs a much closer look before I can translate anything further.
–Grossman Law Offices