The Mantua Fire Department responded to a series of six road incidents on Route 55 during the weekend of April 22.
The incidents – all in the area between exits 48 and 58 of the highway – involved vehicle crashes; traffic issues; and cars catching fire. There were no injuries reported in any of the six incidents.
Among the fires were one caused by an overheated vehicle, another that resulted from an engine compartment blaze and a third involving a tractor trailer whose brakes caught fire, according to Mantua firefighter Victor Torino. The last of those was extinguished before firefighters arrived, and while nearby traffic was snarled, there was no spread to nearby plants and trees.
Another roadway incident occurred during a state’s trooper’s vehicle stop on the right shoulder of Route 55, when a distracted driver sideswiped the car that was pulled over, according to Torino. There were no injuries, but the area of the stop was littered with debris that caused traffic delays and prompted a Facebook post from the fire department about safety in accident areas.
“As a reminder, whenever you see emergency personnel, tow trucks or DOT (Department of Transportation) workers working on the highway, slow down and move over, as it is the law,” the post said.
“We try to remind drivers whenever you see flashing lights, or anyone in the shoulder, to please slow down and move over,” said Torino.
The federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website reported 3,522 deaths nationwide caused by distracted driving and 174,000 vehicle fires in 2021.
