The collision happened shortly before 7:30 a.m. when witnesses said a Ford Explorer crossed over the grassy median into oncoming traffic
TRENTON -- A Florence teen is in critical condition after he was trapped in an overturned car on Route 129 in a fiery 3-car crash that injured five people and snarled traffic into and around Trenton Thursday morning.
The collision happened around 7:30 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the state highway just before Cass Street when a 17-year-old driver of a Ford Explorer in the northbound lanes hit a curb and flipped his car into oncoming southbound traffic, colliding with two other vehicles, Lt. Stephen Varn said.
The Explorer briefly caught fire, which appeared to extinguish itself.
The teenage driver, also from Florence, escaped with minor injuries. His 16-year-old passenger was extricated from the overturned vehicle and taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, where he had emergency surgery and is listed in critical condition, Varn said.
A 37-year-old woman and her 11-year-old daughter were also injured when the teen's car hit their SUV. Both were treated for minor injuries and released from Capital Health, Varn said.
A 36-year-old man from Howell driving another SUV involved in the collision, suffered a broken wrist. He was also was treated and released from Capital Health, Varn said.
No one has been charged in the incident, which is under investigation, Varn said.
Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.