By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Somerset County announced that an ongoing fatal crash investigation occurred in Franklin Township (Somerset County).
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said that on Saturday, August 24, at approximately 12:24 p.m., the Franklin Township Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle in the Delaware Raritan Canal.
Officials stated the location was Canal Road and Grouser Road.
Officers arriving on the scene found damage to the guardrails and several trees and were able to observe a motor vehicle submerged in the water, officials said.
Authorities say the vehicle was first observed by a kayaker who reported the submerged vehicle to police.
The Somerset County Prosecutor Office Dive-Rescue Team was activated and responded to the scene, and according to officials, Dive Team members entered the water and found one occupant inside the submerged vehicle.
The sole occupant, whom authorities have identified as a 31-year-old male Skillman resident, was removed from the vehicle by Dive Team members and pronounced deceased at the scene, officials stated.
Officials say the vehicle was removed from the canal by Mikes Towing and Recovery.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that investigators from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team and Franklin Township Police Traffic Investigators also responded to the scene to conduct the investigation.
According to officials, a preliminary investigation revealed that a 2024 Honda Civic vehicle was traveling westbound on Grouser Road, approaching Canal Road.
Officials stated that Grouser Road terminates at Canal Road, requiring westbound vehicles to turn right or left.
The operator entered the intersection without stopping and struck the guardrails, which caused the vehicle to become airborne, officials said.
Officials say the vehicle struck several road signs and a tree before landing in the canal.
Authorities say the vehicle was found facing eastbound and upright.
Medical Investigators from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene, officials stated.
A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause and origin of death, authorities say.
Officials said the investigation remains ongoing.