Two people, including a New Jersey State trooper, passed away in a fatal car accident on Route 55 in Millville, NJ.
The car crash occurred just before 7:00 p.m. NJ State Trooper Frankie Williams was in his patrol vehicle and headed southbound on Route 55. Williams was reportedly traveling on the highway in response to a service call.
As Williams approached milepost 22.2, he was reportedly hit by a Toyota Corolla. According to law enforcement, the driver of the Toyota moved across the highway’s center median and pulled out in front of the trooper’s vehicle. The two cars violently collided, resulting in the NJ State trooper’s vehicle being overturned.
Other motorists on the roadway dialed 911 and alerted authorities to the motor vehicle accident. NJ State troopers, Millville police officers, and emergency medical responders rushed to the scene, where they saw the aftermath of the car crash. Members of the Millville Rescue Squad extracted Williams from his patrol vehicle and then transported him via ambulance to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. Doctors at the Camden medical facility did everything they could to save Williams’ life, but he was later pronounced dead.
Williams was 31 years of age when he died as a result of injuries sustained in the head-on collision. He lived in Atlantic County, NJ. After becoming a member of the New Jersey State Police in January 2016, Williams was assigned to Port Norris Station in Cumberland County. According to media reports, Williams was taking classes at Rutgers University, on the Camden campus, and trying to earn a master’s degree in criminal justice while serving as a New Jersey State trooper. Earlier this summer, Williams was cited for his heroic efforts rescuing a dog from a locked vehicle in a Pilesgrove Township parking lot.
The driver of the Toyota who was also killed in the tragic auto accident on Route 55 was identified as Lloyd Rudley, a 61-year-old resident of Elmer, NJ. Emergency medical responders pronounced Rudley dead at the scene of the crash. According to initial reports, Rudley was a retired psychiatrist who previously worked at the Inspira Medical Center in Elmer.
Aftermath of Fatal Crash on Route 55 in Millville, NJ
After the Route 55 crash, Millville police and NJ State troopers shut down a stretch of Route 55 for several hours so that emergency crews could clear debris from the highway and law enforcement could investigate the accident. NJ State Police officials have already indicated that other motorists who witnessed the crash said that Rudley may have been “driving erratically” on Route 55 just moments before the fatal accident. Of course, these accounts are far from definitive and would likely need to be verified in the event of any kind of wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of either motorist.
Additionally, it is worth noting that a car accident injury victim, or the survivors of a person who died in a car accident, can potentially file a wrongful death claim under the New Jersey Wrongful Death Act regardless of the outcome of an official police investigation into the crash.
Moreover, the family members of NJ State Trooper Williams may be in a position to seek workers’ compensation benefits for their tragic loss. Since Williams was killed in the line of duty and during work hours, NJ workers’ compensation would probably apply and cover certain damages, including a percentage of the victim’s wages and other expenses related to his death.
For more information, read the NJ.com article, “State Trooper, Motorist Killed in Head-On South Jersey Crash.”
If you or someone you know was injured in a New Jersey car accident caused by a negligent motorist, you should talk to a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Richard Stoloff is an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you get the compensation you need, want, and deserve. Contact Mr. Stoloff now to schedule a free consultation.