By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey State Police are investigating a serious crash that left two men injured on Interstate 78 eastbound in Union County Wednesday afternoon.
Authorities said troopers were called to the scene around 12:31 p.m. near milepost 51.1 in Union Township, where a Ram pickup truck with an attached trailer was partially stopped on the left shoulder and lane of the highway.
According to a preliminary investigation, 40-year-old Gene T. Lombardi III of Sewell and 55-year-old Stephen Kunst of Mantua were standing outside the truck when a Chevrolet Express Van driven by 37-year-old Jonathan Gouveia Lopez of Morris Plains struck the trailer.
The impact caused the van to continue forward, hitting Lombardi before overturning. The trailer was then pushed forward and struck Kunst.
Lombardi suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Kunst sustained moderate injuries, while Lopez was treated for minor injuries.
State Police said the crash remains under investigation, and no further details have been released.