Four people killed in Franklin, Manville crashes over weekend

Four people were killed in two double-fatal crashes in Manville and Franklin over the weekend.

Two people died in a crash at about 1:27 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Dukes Parkway and Main Street in Manville.

And on Sunday morning at about 6:22 a.m. two people died in a crash on Somerset Street (Route 27) near Voorhees Avenue.

Manville

In the three-car crash Friday afternoon, a 75-year-old Manville woman was driving a 2022 Chevrolet Traverse northbound on Main Street in the right lane when she ran the red light and struck a 2018 Mercedes Benz C300 driven by a 52-year-old East Newark man who was crossing Main Street into the shopping center, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.

That caused the Mercedes to strike a 2006 Honda Pilot driven by a 74-year-old Manville man coming out of the shopping center and turning left onto Main Street.

The 75-year-old Manville woman was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The 52-year-old East Newark man was airlifted to an area trauma center where he was later prounced dead.

The third driver was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries and is expected to recover.

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office has not released the identities of the drivers.

Responding police officers along with emergency medical personnel initiated life-saving measures on the occupants of the vehicles.

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Patrol officers, traffic safety officers and detectives from the Manville Borough Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team responded to conduct the investigation along with the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.

Franklin

A 2007 Audi Q7 was going southbound on Somerset Street at about 6:22 a.m. Sunday when the car left the road and struck several trees, lamp posts and a utility pole before coming to a stop, according to the prosecutor's office.

The driver, a 29-year-old Somerset man, was taken to an area trauma center by ambulance with undisclosed injuries and is expected to recover.

A passenger on the right side of the rear seat, a 24-year-old Somerset man, was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger on the left side of the rear seat, a 20-year-old North Brunswick man, was trapped in the car and required extrication. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A front seat passenger, a 29-year-old Highland Park man, sustained minor injuries and refused medical attention.

The prosecutor's office has not released the names of the victims.

Responding police officers along with emergency medical personnel initiated life-saving measures on the occupants of the vehicles.

Patrol officers, traffic safety officers and detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team and the Major Crimes Unit responded to conduct the investigation along with the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.

Both crashes remain under investigation.

Anyone with information about to the fatal crashes is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office at 908-231-7100, the Manville Borough Police Department at 908-722-0089, or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald reminded drivers to remain vigilant over the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

"We want our community members to understand that it is our priority to keep people safe," he said.

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Franklin, Manville NJ crashes leave four people dead