New Jersey woman and mother involved in freak truck accident

A New Jersey woman was killed in a violent Interstate 95 crash on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say that the woman was killed when a tractor-trailer’s rear wheel axle detached on the highway and flew into the woman’s car. The wheels and axle were over 200 pounds and killed 62-year-old Toms River woman instantly by striking her head and neck area. Authorities say that it is a miracle that the woman’s 84-year-old mother survived the truck accident with only cuts to her arm.

“She’s holding up remarkably well, physically,” an investigator said. “But she’s obviously extremely distraught that she lost her daughter.”

The woman’s cousin said that the family is grieving and not ready to make a public statement.

“What can you say?” the cousin said, “We feel terrible. She was wonderful.”

A woman who lives near the accident said that she was married to a trucker who hauls material on I-95 often. The woman watched the accident cleanup from an overpass.

“Since I live right here, I just came to see,” the 41-year-old said. “I just feel bad for the person that died.”

The woman added that after riding in her husband’s 18-wheeler, she thinks that it is possible for the truck driver not to realize that the back wheels came off. The truck driver apparently did not notice that his wheels came off because the 31-year-old New Jersey trucker kept driving. Authorities were able to track him down however with information provided by witnesses.

A towing company employee who towed the remains of the woman’s car said that truck debris accidents like this happen often and that he has seen similar accidents before.

“That’s why I’ve got to wake up and kiss my wife every day before I leave for work,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen out there.”

Source: LoHud, “Tractor trailer involved in fatal I-95 crash impounded,” James O’Rourke, Colin Gustafson, Aug. 16, 2011