EDISON, Middlesex County, N.J., Oct. 13, 2026 — A 47-year-old construction worker died early on Tuesday, October 13, after a vehicle struck him in a work zone on the New Jersey Turnpike in Edison. The driver has since been arrested and charged, according to the New Jersey State Police.
Troopers responded around 3:52 a.m. to a crash on the Turnpike's southbound outer roadway near milepost 87.7 in Edison Township. A preliminary investigation found that the man was working inside a marked construction zone with a two-lane closure when a GMC SUV entered the area and struck him. He died of his injuries at the scene.
State police identified the man as Brian Flanagan of Manchester, N.J. He served as chief of the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, which announced his death in a statement Tuesday calling him "a loving husband, father, uncle, friend, and brother to our fire company family."
Investigators said the driver left the scene after the crash. He was later identified as a 40-year-old Edison resident and was arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular homicide, and second-degree leaving the scene of a fatal crash. He is being held at the Middlesex County Jail awaiting a detention hearing, according to police.
The crash remains under investigation.
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family of the victim.
What the Numbers Show About Work Zone Crashes
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one person was killed every 13 minutes in traffic crashes in 2023. That figure covers all kinds of roadway deaths, but it helps frame how often a single moment of driver inattention or impairment turns fatal, including in areas where workers are present on foot.
Work zones add a particular risk because the people most exposed, flaggers, construction crews, tow truck operators, are not protected by a vehicle frame. Barrels, cones, and lane shifts are meant to slow traffic and create separation, but they rely on drivers to notice and obey them. When a vehicle drifts into a closed lane or enters a work area, there is often little distance left to react.
Nighttime work zones carry added risk because visibility is lower and drivers may not expect lane closures on a highway they normally drive at speed. Investigators in crashes like this one typically look at vehicle speed, lighting and signage placement, and whether the driver showed signs of impairment or distraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are fatal crashes like this investigated?
Police typically reconstruct the scene using physical evidence, vehicle data, and witness accounts, and coordinate with county prosecutors when criminal charges are possible.
How long do fatal-crash investigations usually take?
Initial findings often come within days, but full investigations, including toxicology and crash reconstruction, can take weeks or months before charges are finalized or adjusted.
What role does impairment play in fatal work zone crashes?
Impairment, distraction, and speeding are common factors investigators examine in fatal work zone crashes, though each case depends on evidence gathered at the scene.
Where do fatal work zone crashes most often occur?
They concentrate on highways and interstates with active lane closures, particularly during overnight hours when visibility is reduced and traffic volume is lower, but speeds remain high.
What to Do After a Work Zone Crash in Edison, NJ
Anyone involved in or witnessing a work zone crash should call 911 immediately and, if possible, move to a safe distance from traffic. Even if injuries seem minor, a medical evaluation is important, since some injuries from being struck by a vehicle are not immediately obvious.
Witnesses should stay if it is safe to do so and provide a statement to responding officers, since outside accounts can matter in these investigations. Anyone with dash-cam footage or who saw the vehicle involved is encouraged to contact the New Jersey State Police. Those affected should also keep records of any official reports or notifications they receive as the investigation moves forward.
