Ramsey, New Jersey – Route 17 experienced a series of incidents on Friday morning, causing road closures and significant delays for commuters. Crashes and a watermain break stretched from the northern section in Ramsey to the southern part of the county in Carlstadt, disrupting the morning commute.
The chaos began with a crash involving a stolen car and a downed utility pole, resulting in the closure of Route 17 in both directions near Saddle River. The New Jersey Department of Transportation and local police were quick to respond, but the crash led to a fire and telephone pole wires covering the highway.
At around the same time, the Ramsey Office of Emergency Management alerted drivers to a closure on Route 17 south at Lake Street, which turned out to be due to a tragic incident involving a pedestrian attempting to cross the northbound lanes of Route 17 who was struck and killed by a vehicle. Both the north and southbound lanes were affected by this crash but were reopened around 9:30 a.m. No other injuries were reported.
Additionally, a water main break on Route 17 south in Carlstadt caused further closures and traffic delays, adding to the morning’s challenges for residents and commuters. Social media was flooded with comments from frustrated individuals, expressing their dismay over the situation.
“The whole area is a complete disaster,” said one commuter in response to a traffic alert.
Overall, the series of events on Route 17 led to a morning of chaos and frustration for commuters and emergency responders alike, underscoring the importance of safety and vigilance on the road.