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A Hudson County man was killed and two others injured Thursday evening after a box truck triggered a five-vehicle chain-reaction pileup on Interstate 78.
The fatal accident occurred at 5:58 p.m. on the eastbound lanes of I-78 at milepost 52.3 in Union Township.
According to a preliminary investigation by the state police, a box truck heading eastbound during the evening commute slammed into the rear of a Nissan SUV.
The initial impact set off a destructive domino effect on the highway:
- After being hit by the box truck, the Nissan propelled forward and struck the rear of a GMC SUV.
- The GMC was then forced into the back of a Jeep SUV.
- The Jeep was pushed forward, ultimately striking the rear of a Honda passenger vehicle.
Victor R. Fajardo, 44, from Harrison, New Jersey, was riding as a rear-seat passenger in the Honda. He sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead.
Two other drivers hurt in the pileup sustained moderate injuries, and individuals were transported to a hospital for treatment.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.