Truck Accident in Denville Causes Huge Fire, Closes Highway for Days
Dave Aiello wrote, "Friday morning at about 5:45am, there was a three tractor trailer accident on the Westbound side Route 80, close to Downtown Denville. This was the closest thing I ever saw in my hometown to one of the disaster episodes on the old TV show Emergency."
"In order to avoid certain delays, I left a few minutes later to go to a client's office in New York. I got a really good view of 35,000 gallons of gasoline burning due to the rupture of a half loaded tanker truck that was part of the accident. That's one of those moments where I wish I had my digital camera handy in the car."
"It appears that the Westbound viaduct over Den Brook will have to be replaced, due to the extreme fire damage. Read on for some links to stories about the incident...."
- Saturday Newspaper Coverage
- 3-truck crash, intense fire close section of highway, Bergen Record
This article has the best arial photo of the accident scene (although it is small), and a diagram of the accident site.
- Route 80 Inferno, Morristown Daily Record
Good quotes from Denville Police and other people who were nearby. Also a good description of the early bridge damage assesment effort.
- 3-truck crash, intense fire close section of highway, Bergen Record
- Sunday Newspaper Coverage
- Rt. 80 mess to last most of summer, Newark Star-Ledger
This article summarizes the damage to the westbound bridge and describes the effort needed to rebuild it.
- Rt. 80 mess to last most of summer, Newark Star-Ledger
- Monday Newspaper Coverage
- Route 80 drivers ready to learn the crawl this summer
On the first business day after the accident, the Newark Star-Ledger discusses the effect that the temporary bridge will have on westbound traffic until the final bridge replacement takes place.
- Route 80 drivers ready to learn the crawl this summer