Route 3 in Clifton fully reopened after deadly crash but cleanup continues

Amanda Wallace and Lucas Frau, NorthJersey.com
Updated ·2 min read
1

The state Department of Transportation worked through Tuesday morning to clean up the aftermath of the explosive truck crash that took place on Monday, causing a complete shutdown of Route 3 and leaving one man dead.

According to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, a commercial truck was traveling west on Route 3 in Clifton when it crashed into a barrier and caught fire. Shortly after, callers on the highway and first responders observed multiple explosions.

The highway remained completely shut down into Monday evening while investigation and cleanup efforts took place.

According to the DOT, all lanes and ramps were reopened as of 10:40 a.m. Tuesday.

The crash knocked down several sound wall panels and damaged the guardrail and the roadway pavement. Following the completion of the investigation and cleanup on Monday night, the damaged portion of Route 3 eastbound was milled and paved, according to the DOT.

Repairs to the guardrail as well as the installation of fencing and construction barriers where the sound wall was knocked down was still ongoing as of Tuesday morning.

Traffic is shown on Route 3 between Grove Street and Valley Road, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Clifton. One lane of the east bound (left) is still closed, approximately 22 hours after an accident resulted in one death and the sound wall being breached.
Traffic is shown on Route 3 between Grove Street and Valley Road, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Clifton. One lane of the east bound (left) is still closed, approximately 22 hours after an accident resulted in one death and the sound wall being breached.

In addition to the highway's damage, three nearby homes sustained exterior damage from the heat of the fire, according to Clifton Fire Chief Daniel Collins.

When the fire department arrived on scene Monday morning, they protected the houses on the other side of the wall from the fire and nearby residents were evacuated, according to Collins. The homes' interiors and structures were checked by the fire department and the building department who determined that the houses were safe to occupy.

Workers are shown at the scene of an accident that occurred Monday, on Route 3 east, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The accident resulted in the death of one driver and the breach of the sound wall.
Workers are shown at the scene of an accident that occurred Monday, on Route 3 east, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The accident resulted in the death of one driver and the breach of the sound wall.

As of Monday afternoon, all residents were safely back in their homes.

After the fire was brought under control, the body of the 55-year-old truck driver from Linden was discovered, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.

Several Clifton police officers were treated for minor injuries and then released, said City Manager Dominick Villano in a release on Tuesday.

Passaic Valley Water Commission confirmed the drinking water is safe, and Villano stated that the "previous discoloration of the water was due to the sediment disturbed by the firefighting efforts and heavy water usage from fire hydrants."

The commercial truck was carrying the following chemicals, Acetic Acid, Heptane Exxon, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Xylene Sulfonate, Texanol Ester Alcohol, Acetone, Triethanolamine, Citric Acid Anhydrous, Sodium Hydroxide, Mineral Spirits and Sodium, according to a documentation given to the NJDEP, Passaic County and local authorities by the trucking company.

The exact cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Route 3 Clifton NJ crash cleanup continues Tuesday, lanes reopened