Yesterday, July 22nd, Route 3 was closed in both directions due to a large tractor-trailer fire that broke out around Montclair and Clifton, right near Valley Road — on the Route 3 to Route 46 changeover.
Absolutely wild scene where Route 46 turns into Route 3 in New Jersey.
Great job by Clifton police and fire department to act quick and swiftly getting the cars out of the way@NJTRANSIT @njdotcom @NJGov @NJSP @FoxNews @CNN @cnnbrk @MSNBC @CliftonFDNJ pic.twitter.com/62VnJB6FPR
— gelø (@gelo__25) July 22, 2024
This video was uploaded to X at 9:32AM on Monday July 22nd. Initially, there was no report of injuries, but nearby homes are evacuating as a precaution.
Later yesterday, it was confirmed that a 55-year-old truck driver tragically lost his life in the fire. Per ABC7NY, the crash happened when the box truck and a New Jersey Transit bus collided. The truck then exploded when it crashed through the sound barrier into the back yard of several houses.” There were 29 customers on the bus, but as of this reporting, everyone on board is okay.
Per NJ News 12, at least four homes have caution tape on their properties, and “the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is surveying the impacts.”
Follow @themontclairgirl on social media for more updates.