Seven fewer pedestrians have been killed this year compared to the same time in 2017. Last year saw pedestrian fatalities spike to 113, the highest number seen in more than two decades. Summer 2018 was less deadly on Garden State roads with 165 traffic fatalities, compared to 183 deaths that occurred last summer between the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends.
But it’s not all good news. Three more bicyclists died in collisions so far than the nine cyclists killed last year.Where are the most accidents?The death rate so far differs vastly by county. The answer to this question isn't always the most obvious. The likely suspects, busy urban or older suburban counties that have heavy commuter traffic volume passing through aren't always the places with the highest death toll. That may seem counterintuitive, but more crashes do happen on local roads, sad Pam Fischer, safety consultant and former state Division of Highway Traffic Safety director. Here is county by county breakdown:
21. Hunterdon County. Traffic fatalities: one.Hunterdon County had one traffic fatality as of Sept. 24, according to State Police crash statistics. The lone fatality occurred on May 25 when two trucks collided on Route 31 in Glen Gardner.
20. Warren County (tie). Traffic fatalities: six.Six people died in six separate crashes in Warren County as of September 24, and five of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. In one of those crashes, an 87-year old Lopatcong man was killed in July after his car was struck by a Jeep, which authorities said ran a stop sign in Phillipsburg. The driver of the Jeep was charged with careless driving and failure to observe a stop sign.
20. Salem County (tie). Traffic fatalities: six.Six people died in six crashes in Salem County as of September 24, with three of those deaths occurring this summer, according to State Police crash statistics.In January, the driver of a tractor-trailer was killed after his truck ran off the road, hit several trees and burst into flame on Interstate 295 in Carneys Point Township. The crash and fire closed the southbound lanes to traffic for six hours.
18. Sussex County. Traffic fatalities: eight.Eight people died in eight separate crashes in Sussex County as of September 24, and four of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. One of those fatal crashes involved a man who fled from police after they saw him driving erratically on Route 206 in Andover. The driver, Kevin McCurdy, 54, of Newton, died after his car hit a utility pole. An investigation that followed said the Andover Township police officer adhered to state attorney general's office guidelines for pursuits.17. Cape May County. Traffic fatalities: 10.Cape May County had 10 traffic fatalities as of September 24, and six of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics.In August, a 73-year-old woman was killed in a head-on collision in Middle Township after police said her SUV crossed the centerline of Court House-South Dennis Road and collided with another SUV, injuring two people in that vehicle.
16. Cumberland County. Traffic fatalities: 13.Cumberland County had 13 fatalities as of September 24, and two of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. A fiery head-on crash on February 9 in Vineland between a car and passenger van killed the driver of the car and injured the 11 passengers in the van. The van and car collided on crash on North Mill Road. The car burst into flames after the head-on collision.
15. Hudson County. Traffic fatalities: 14.Hudson County had 14 fatalities as of September 24, with three of those deaths occurring during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Two people were killed in a violent crash on Routes 1&9 north in Jersey City in February that left toys and a stroller scattered on road. That crash happened shortly after Jersey City officials announced it was adopting a "Vision Zero" policy, similar to New York City's campaign to eliminate traffic deaths. 14. Passaic County (tie). Traffic fatalities: 15.Passaic County had 15 people killed in crashes as of September 24, and nine of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Passaic County tied with Hudson as the tenth deadliest county in the state.In February, a woman was killed and her 6-year-old child was seriously hurt when they were hit by a car as they crossed Valley Road in Wayne. It was the second fatal pedestrian collision on Valley Road in two days.
14. Mercer County (tie). Traffic fatalities: 15.Mercer County had 15 traffic deaths as of September 24 and six of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Mercer County ranked ninth deadliest county in the state.A Hamilton man was charged with death by auto after he hit a 13-year-old skateboarder in July. Police said his SUV crossed the center line on Nottingham Way and hit the boy who was on the other side of the street near the curb. The driver, Mauricio Velastegui, was also charged with driving while intoxicated.
12. Somerset County. (tie) Traffic fatalities: 17.Somerset County had 17 people killed in crashes as of September 24, with eight of those deaths happening during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Somerset County tied with neighboring Union County.A 24-old tow truck driver was killed on Interstate 287 in June in Bridgewater after he was hit by a car as he was preparing to tow a disabled vehicle off the highway. The car that hit the tow truck driver was then hit by a box truck, police said.
12. Union County (tie). Traffic fatalities: 17Union County had 17 people killed in crashes as of September 24, and eleven of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Union and Somerset County had the same number of traffic deaths. In July, the driver of a dump truck on Interstate 78 east lost control of the truck, struck the concrete barrier and went into the westbound lanes, striking three cars in Berkley Heights, killing an Easton, Pennsylvania man who was driving a Nissan Altima.
10. Bergen County. (tie) Traffic fatalities: 19.Bergen County had 19 fatalities as of September 24, nine of those deaths occurred during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. The county tied with Atlantic, Morris and Monmouth.Among those crashes was a single-car collision with a tree off the Palisades Interstate Parkway in July that claimed the life of the driver after the car hit a tree in Alpine and burst into flames.
10. Monmouth County (tie). Traffic fatalities: 19.Monmouth County had 19 deaths as of September 24, seven of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Atlantic, Bergen, Monmouth and Morris County tied with the same number of traffic fatalities.A Moorestown man, who was a student at Monmouth University, was killed in February when the car he was a passenger in veered off the road and hit a tree on South Lincoln Avenue in Ocean Township. The fatality was a factor in the university's decision to suspend all fraternities and sororities in early September.By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media
But it’s not all good news. Three more bicyclists died in collisions so far than the nine cyclists killed last year.Where are the most accidents?The death rate so far differs vastly by county. The answer to this question isn't always the most obvious. The likely suspects, busy urban or older suburban counties that have heavy commuter traffic volume passing through aren't always the places with the highest death toll. That may seem counterintuitive, but more crashes do happen on local roads, sad Pam Fischer, safety consultant and former state Division of Highway Traffic Safety director. Here is county by county breakdown:
21. Hunterdon County. Traffic fatalities: one.Hunterdon County had one traffic fatality as of Sept. 24, according to State Police crash statistics. The lone fatality occurred on May 25 when two trucks collided on Route 31 in Glen Gardner.
20. Warren County (tie). Traffic fatalities: six.Six people died in six separate crashes in Warren County as of September 24, and five of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. In one of those crashes, an 87-year old Lopatcong man was killed in July after his car was struck by a Jeep, which authorities said ran a stop sign in Phillipsburg. The driver of the Jeep was charged with careless driving and failure to observe a stop sign.
20. Salem County (tie). Traffic fatalities: six.Six people died in six crashes in Salem County as of September 24, with three of those deaths occurring this summer, according to State Police crash statistics.In January, the driver of a tractor-trailer was killed after his truck ran off the road, hit several trees and burst into flame on Interstate 295 in Carneys Point Township. The crash and fire closed the southbound lanes to traffic for six hours.
18. Sussex County. Traffic fatalities: eight.Eight people died in eight separate crashes in Sussex County as of September 24, and four of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. One of those fatal crashes involved a man who fled from police after they saw him driving erratically on Route 206 in Andover. The driver, Kevin McCurdy, 54, of Newton, died after his car hit a utility pole. An investigation that followed said the Andover Township police officer adhered to state attorney general's office guidelines for pursuits.17. Cape May County. Traffic fatalities: 10.Cape May County had 10 traffic fatalities as of September 24, and six of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics.In August, a 73-year-old woman was killed in a head-on collision in Middle Township after police said her SUV crossed the centerline of Court House-South Dennis Road and collided with another SUV, injuring two people in that vehicle.
16. Cumberland County. Traffic fatalities: 13.Cumberland County had 13 fatalities as of September 24, and two of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. A fiery head-on crash on February 9 in Vineland between a car and passenger van killed the driver of the car and injured the 11 passengers in the van. The van and car collided on crash on North Mill Road. The car burst into flames after the head-on collision.
15. Hudson County. Traffic fatalities: 14.Hudson County had 14 fatalities as of September 24, with three of those deaths occurring during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Two people were killed in a violent crash on Routes 1&9 north in Jersey City in February that left toys and a stroller scattered on road. That crash happened shortly after Jersey City officials announced it was adopting a "Vision Zero" policy, similar to New York City's campaign to eliminate traffic deaths. 14. Passaic County (tie). Traffic fatalities: 15.Passaic County had 15 people killed in crashes as of September 24, and nine of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Passaic County tied with Hudson as the tenth deadliest county in the state.In February, a woman was killed and her 6-year-old child was seriously hurt when they were hit by a car as they crossed Valley Road in Wayne. It was the second fatal pedestrian collision on Valley Road in two days.
14. Mercer County (tie). Traffic fatalities: 15.Mercer County had 15 traffic deaths as of September 24 and six of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Mercer County ranked ninth deadliest county in the state.A Hamilton man was charged with death by auto after he hit a 13-year-old skateboarder in July. Police said his SUV crossed the center line on Nottingham Way and hit the boy who was on the other side of the street near the curb. The driver, Mauricio Velastegui, was also charged with driving while intoxicated.
12. Somerset County. (tie) Traffic fatalities: 17.Somerset County had 17 people killed in crashes as of September 24, with eight of those deaths happening during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Somerset County tied with neighboring Union County.A 24-old tow truck driver was killed on Interstate 287 in June in Bridgewater after he was hit by a car as he was preparing to tow a disabled vehicle off the highway. The car that hit the tow truck driver was then hit by a box truck, police said.
12. Union County (tie). Traffic fatalities: 17Union County had 17 people killed in crashes as of September 24, and eleven of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Union and Somerset County had the same number of traffic deaths. In July, the driver of a dump truck on Interstate 78 east lost control of the truck, struck the concrete barrier and went into the westbound lanes, striking three cars in Berkley Heights, killing an Easton, Pennsylvania man who was driving a Nissan Altima.
10. Bergen County. (tie) Traffic fatalities: 19.Bergen County had 19 fatalities as of September 24, nine of those deaths occurred during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. The county tied with Atlantic, Morris and Monmouth.Among those crashes was a single-car collision with a tree off the Palisades Interstate Parkway in July that claimed the life of the driver after the car hit a tree in Alpine and burst into flames.
10. Monmouth County (tie). Traffic fatalities: 19.Monmouth County had 19 deaths as of September 24, seven of those deaths happened during the summer, according to State Police crash statistics. Atlantic, Bergen, Monmouth and Morris County tied with the same number of traffic fatalities.A Moorestown man, who was a student at Monmouth University, was killed in February when the car he was a passenger in veered off the road and hit a tree on South Lincoln Avenue in Ocean Township. The fatality was a factor in the university's decision to suspend all fraternities and sororities in early September.By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media