Union Township, NJ (March 9, 2026) – An early morning crash involving two vehicles was reported on Monday, March 9, along the eastbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 78) in Union Township.
Emergency units were called to the scene at about 8:05 a.m. near mile marker 25. Initial reports indicate the accident involved two cars traveling in the eastbound lanes.
At least one person was hurt in the crash. Emergency crews assisted those involved and arranged for a patient to be taken to a hospital for treatment.
Traffic delays may have developed in the area as responders worked to clear the roadway and assist the people involved. The circumstances that led to the accident have not been released at this time.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and more details will be released as soon as they become available.
Our thoughts are with those affected as they continue to recover.
Is Interstate 78 a Dangerous Highway?
Data from roadway safety studies shows that parts of I-78 have recorded a large number of crashes over time. One analysis found about 2,915 crashes and more than 600 injuries on I-78 in New Jersey, with a significant cluster of incidents occurring in Union Township in Union County.
While those numbers may sound large, they also reflect how heavily the highway is used. Interstate routes often see more collisions simply because they carry more vehicles and operate at higher speeds. In truck crash data covering 2017–2024, segments of I-78 in Union and Somerset counties were among the state roadways with hundreds of reported truck accidents and injuries.
At the county level, Union County recorded dozens of fatal crashes in recent yearly data, along with thousands of total collisions over several years across interstate, state, county, and local roads.
Interstate 78 runs across northern New Jersey and carries thousands of drivers each day between Pennsylvania, Newark Liberty International Airport, and the New York City area. Because it connects several major commuting and freight corridors, traffic volumes can be high, especially in counties such as Union, Essex, and Somerset.
Looking at the broader picture, New Jersey experiences hundreds of fatal crashes each year. Preliminary statewide data shows 547 fatal crashes and about 582 deaths in 2025, a drop from 647 fatal crashes and 684 deaths in 2024.
