LOPATCONG, NJ – On Friday, the Lopatcong Fire Department responded to three calls in rapid succession, including two motor vehicle crashes.
“The first call was for a car into a telephone pole at First Street and Cromwell that had snapped the pole with arcing electrical wires. While responding to that first call, a second call was received for an odor of smoke at St. Luke’s Orthopedics at 755 Memorial Parkway,” the department said.
A fire officer responded to the snapped pole while Engines 74-61 and 74-62 responded to St. Luke’s and it was determined that the odor of smoke at St Luke’s was due to electric issues from the power lines being down at the first accident scene with the snapped pole.
“Members on scene had to shut the power off to the building as electrical loads were coming into the building as the neutral wire had been broken causing power surges within the building,” the department said. “As crews were shutting the power off a third call was received for a motor vehicle accident in Route 22 west on the bridge passing over the railroad tracks with damage to the bridge itself.”
According to the LFD, engines 74-61 and 74-62 cleared the scene at St Luke’s and responded to the crash on Route 22. Upon arrival, crews found the highway completely blocked by both vehicles. Members disconnected the batteries to both vehicles to prevent any possible electrical fires and applied speedy dry do to a large area of leaking fluids from both vehicles.
NJ D.O.T was requested to respond to assist with the closures and to inspect the bridge due to the damage it had received in the crash.
“The Lopatcong Fire Police also responded and assisted the Lopatcong Police by shutting down Route 22 and Route 519. Fire Police members were also directing traffic at Rt.519 and Strykers Road and Route 57 and Strykers Road to help try alleviate the mass congestion from the closure of Route 22 west,” the department said.
Photo by Lopatcong Fired Department.