By: Yuritza Arroyo
Somerset County authorities announced an ongoing investigation into a fatal motor vehicle crash in Franklin Township (Somerset County).
According to Prosecutor McDonald, on Monday, June 19, at approximately 5:30 p.m. Franklin Township Police responded to the scene of a three-car motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Hamilton Street and Hillcrest Avenue, Somerset.
Franklin Township Police say responding Officers, along with Emergency Medical personnel, upon arrival to the crash scene, initiated life-saving measures on a male driver who was operating a 2013 Infiniti Q50S.
The male driver, identified as New Brunswick resident Mario Heslop, age 23, was transported to an area trauma hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.
According to Police, the driver of the second vehicle in the crash, whom authorities are identifying as a Hillsborough resident, sustained injuries because of the crash, which were considered non-life threatening.
That driver was transported to and treated at an area hospital.
According to the authorities, the driver of the third vehicle involved in the crash claimed no injury and refused medical attention at the scene.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that the preliminary investigation revealed that Mr. Heslop (vehicle one) was operating his vehicle eastbound in the left lane when he crossed the centerline and struck the second vehicle traveling westbound in the left lane of Hamilton Street.
The second vehicle was then struck from the rear by the third vehicle involved in the crash, who was also traveling westbound in the left lane of Hamilton Street.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that patrol officers, traffic safety officers, detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department, and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team responded to conduct the investigation.
The circumstances and events leading to the fatal motor vehicle crash remain under investigation.