Officials: 1 Dead, Multiple Injured After Van Overturns On New Jersey Highway
HANOVER, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- One person was killed and more than a dozen others were injured after a van crashed Wednesday in Morris County.
The accident happened in Hanover shortly before 11 a.m. near Exit 2 in the eastbound lanes of Route 24.
Chopper 2 was over the area where the van overturned in a patch of trees down an embankment, just off an exit for the Columbia Turnpike.
The van was believed to be carrying a group of workers to a job.
Sources told CBS2's Meg Baker the male driver was pronounced dead at the scene and 14 passengers were taken to Morristown Medical Center.
"Based on the number of injuries that were initially reported, we activated what is called a mass casualty incident, which was a large medical response," said Jeff Paul, director of Morris County Office of Emergency Management EMS coordinator.
Chopper 2 showed a huge response by local first responders lined up on Route 24. Nine patients with non-life-threatening injuries were transported on an EMS task force bus, the other five by ambulance. Paul said the county used a new encrypted radio system to communicate with the emergency room staff.
"Giving the hospital trauma team and ER staff up-to-date information with regard to what's taking place at the scene so they can be better prepared for our arrival," Paul said.
Route 24 eastbound remained closed to traffic for several hours as police investigated and debris was cleared from the scene.
Sources said the driver was properly licensed, but there was no immediate word from the state police on whether or not the vehicle was licensed for commercial transport.
CBS2's Meg Baker contributed to this report
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