New Jersey

Driver dies, passenger rescued as dump truck crashes into NJ river

The partially submerged truck crashed off a Bridgeton-area road and into the Cohansey River

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A driver died after his dump truck crashed off a New Jersey road and into a river overnight.

The work vehicle went through a guardrail along County Route 553 and into the Cohansey River in Fairfield Township, Cumberland County, around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, New Jersey State Police Detective I Jeffrey Lebron said Friday morning.

This is what state police said happened: "Preliminary investigation revealed that an Kenworth T880 was traveling southbound and ran off the road to the right, through the guiderail and into the Cohansey River."

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Two people were in the truck when it crashed, police said.

The passenger made it out and was on top of the partially submerged vehicle when emergency responders showed up, police said. The driver wasn't there.

The passenger was medevacked to the hospital for treatment, police said. That person was listed in moderate condition.

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Crews began to search for the driver.

A body was seen along the water line, police said. Police later identified the dead driver as Matthew Jacobs Jr., a 60-year-old from Bridgeton.

Early Friday morning, crews could be seen towing the truck out of the water.

The cause of the wreck remained under investigation, state police said.

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