Rt 206 Fatal Crash - Press Release

[Chief Eric Danielson]

On Friday February 26th, at approximately 1422 hours, the Andover Township Police Department 9-1-1 Center received several calls reference a motor vehicle accident in the area of ThorLabs on US Hwy 206. Patrols responded and located a small vehicle underneath the trailer of a tractor-trailer. In the vehicle, patrols located Richard Hamm, 62 of Andover Township, deceased as a result of his injuries from the crash.  The driver of the tractor-trailer was uninjured.

During the course of the investigation it was learned a UPS tractor-trailer was attempting to back into a loading dock area and was perpendicular with the roadway.  Hamm's 2008 Dodge Caliber was traveling northbound on Route 206 towards Newton when the vehicle drove directly into and underneath the trailer.  Hamm's vehicle was later extricated from the trailer and the victim removed from the vehicle with the assistance of the Andover Township Fire Department.  Route 206 was closed in both directions and traffic was detoured for approximately 4 hours while the crash was investigated.  

The Andover Township Police Department was assisted by the Newton Police Department, Sussex County Sheriff's Office, NJ State DOT, Sussex County Prosecutor's Office and the Morris County Medical Examiner's Office.  Additional responding agencies were the Lakeland Emregency Squad, Andover Boro Fire Department and D&E Service.  The accident currently remains under investigation.