A 35-year-old Clayton died from injuries he suffered in a motor-vehicle crash on County Road 655 (Fries Mill Road) on Aug. 9, according to the Monroe Township Police Department.
The crash occurred at approximately 10:04 a.m., as the victim drove a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe southbound on 655, between Stranger Avenue and Arlington Drive. A 2005 Toyota RAV4 driven by a 58-year-old woman from Blackwood was headed northbound in the same area, followed directly by a 2005 Ford F-150 driven by a 48-year-old man from Franklinville.
For reasons yet to be determined, the Hyundai crossed the double-yellow centerline into the northbound lane and struck the Toyota on the driver’s side there, about 550 feet south of Stranger Avenue. The force of the impact caused the Toyota to rotate counterclockwise within its lane, cross over the double-yellow centerline and continue through the southbound lane.
It came to rest on the southbound shoulder, approximately 100 feet from the point of initial contact, according to police. Following the initial collision with the Toyota, the Hyundai continued south in the norhtbound lane for approximately 100 feet before colliding head on with the Ford F-150.
The driver of the Hyundai was transported by ground to Jefferson Washington Hospital and subsequently flown to Jefferson University Hospital Trauma Center in Philadelphia, where he died from his injuries on Aug. 10.
The driver of the Toyota was also transported Jefferson Washington Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the Toyota was evaluated by Gloucester County EMS at the scene and refused treatment. The Ford F-150 driver sustained lower-body injuries and was transported by ground to Cooper trauma Center for treatment.
The crash is being investigated by the police department’s Traffic Safety Unit. Any witnesses can contact Dacoda Leech at (856) 728-9800, ext. 567.
