2 injured after pickup truck truck crashes into utility pole, retaining wall, gas station in Sussex County
FRANKLIN BOROUGH, NJ (Sussex County) – Two people were injured after a pickup truck truck crashes into utility pole, retaining wall, and then into a gas station in Sussex County last week.
It happened on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at around 2:40 p.m., at the Shell gas station, located at 425 Route 23 South, in Franklin Borough, police said.
Responding officers arrived on scene and observed a utility pole in the southbound lane of Route 23 and a pickup truck, later confirmed to be operated by Steven Conroy, 61, of Saddle Brook, entirely within the building after first striking a utility pole and a nearby retaining wall, police said.
An employee of the Shell Station was in the building at the time of the accident and suffered a leg fracture and related injuries as a result of the pickup truck striking the building, police said.
Both were transported to nearby hospitals for further evaluation, police said.
The incident required a temporary redirection of Route 23 northbound and southbound traffic between Rapole Street and Mabie Street with the assistance of the NJDOT Diversion Team, police said.
Due to the damaged utility pole, an interruption in electric services impacted the nearby area. Jersey Central Power & Light subsequently undertook necessary repairs and replacement of the pole, police said.
The building was evaluated by the borough’s building inspector and determined not to pose any further hazards, police said.
“The Franklin Borough Detective Bureau is continuing an investigation into the incident with the assistance of the Sussex County Prosecutors Office. Updates regarding complaints filed as a result of the accident will be provided as necessary, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation,” police said.
