Updated: Tractor Trailer Snags Utility Wires, Snaps Poles, Causes Massive Easton Avenue Traffic Snarl

Cleanup may affect July 22 morning commute.

One of three cars that was enmeshed in high-tension wires on Easton Avenue on July 21, after the wires were pulled down by a tractor-trailer.

Update: Repairs are expected to last into the morning of July 23, according to township police. Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes.

There were no injuries, but traffic on Easton Avenue was snarled for the afternoon commute July 21 after an oversized tractor-trailer snagged some overhead electrical wires, bringing them down on three cars and snapping four utility poles.

Township police Sgt. Phil Rizzo said that Philip Belk, 47, of Kulpmont, Pa. was hauling a portion of a power station on the trailer when it struck the overhead wires on the southbound side of the street, which then pulled the rest of the wires down on his vehicle and the cars.

The accident, which happened at about 2:55 p.m., resulted in three snapped utility poles on the northbound side of Easton Avenue and one at Easton and Worlds Fair Drive, Rizzo said.

A 2004 Honda Civic driven by Veeramani Ramamoorthy, 38, of Somerset was entangled in the wires, as was Belk’s truck, Rizzo said in a press release on the incident.

A 2015 Honda CRV, driven by Theresa Seemann, 58, of Scotch Plains was also struck by the downed wires, the release said. Seemann was able to safely move past the area and exit her vehicle, according to the release.

Additionally, an unoccupied 2015 Ford Fusion that was parked in the Bank of America parking lot on World’s Fair Drive was stuck by downed lines, according to the release.

“Once PSE&G got here, we were able to cut power and get individuals out of the vehicles,” Rizzo said at the scene. “There were no injuries, thank goodness.”

Police initially closed off Easton between Worlds Fair and Willow Avenue, but later opened it as far as Cedar Grove Lane.

Rizzo said drivers should be prepared for a slow morning commute as well.

“Right now it’s definitely going to affect the afternoon rush,” he said. “It may affect the morinng commute, not sure yet. PSE&G has stated they’re going to work through the evening and through the night to do everything they can to restore the traffic pattern.”

Rizzo said that the accident is still under investigation, and that no summonses had been issued as of the afternoon.

July 21, 2015 Easton Ave. Accident

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