By: Richard L. Smith
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Thomas Bryan of the Edison Police Department announced today a heartbreaking incident that unfolded in the early hours of the morning, leaving one person dead.
Officials said at approximately 5:51 a.m., emergency services rushed to a residence on Poll Place in Edison, responding to reports of a structure fire that had engulfed the home.
As first responders entered the scene, they made a grim discovery – an unresponsive man, identified as Mr. James Thomas, 71, of Edison, was found in an upstairs bedroom.
Thomas, a friend of the family residing in the home, was immediately transported to JFK Hospital.
Tragically, he was pronounced deceased shortly after his arrival.
The exact cause of James Thomas's death remains shrouded in uncertainty, pending the outcome of an autopsy to be conducted by the Middlesex County Regional Medical Examiner's Office.
It's worth noting that no injuries were reported among the firefighters and police officers who bravely battled the blaze.
Though the investigation into this devastating incident is ongoing, initial findings suggest that the fire is not of a suspicious nature but rather an unfortunate accident.
Authorities are diligently working to uncover the circumstances that led to this tragic loss.
As the investigation continues, anyone with information related to the fire is urged to contact Detective Mike Geist of the Edison Police Department at 908-421-4741 or Detective Matthew Colonna of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at 732-745-3354.