Passenger Vehicle Median Crossover and Head-on Collision with Another Passenger Vehicle, Linden, New Jersey, May 1, 2003

Book excerpt: The Mercedes slid approximately 80 feet across the northbound lanes and struck a wooden utility pole next to the east side of the roadway, where it came to rest straddling the right northbound lane and the grassy area to the east of the - roadway. Following the collision, the Ford remained upright, rotated about 163 degrees counterclockwise, and slid about 50 feet, where it came to rest in the right northbound lane. The Ford was occupied by a 33-year-old driver and four passengers ranging in age from 18 to 31. The drivers of both vehicles and three of the four Ford Taurus passengers died at the scene. The fourth Ford passenger died several hours later in a hospital. - Major safety issues identified in this report are alcohol impairment, speed enforcement, and evaluative criteria for median barrier installation.