Millville police say 3 drivers hurt when dump truck rear-ends van

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Millville police say 3 drivers hurt when dump truck rear-ends van

By EDWARD VAN EMBDEN Staff Writer, 856-649-2072

Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008

MILLVILLE - A Millville man is in critical condition after a Monday morning accident that involved three vehicles, injuries to each driver and the closing of one of the city's main thoroughfares.

Police said Comcast employee Edwin Crespo was attempting to turn left onto Forest Glen Road from Route 49, also known as East Main Street in Millville, when a tri-axle dump truck rear-ended his work van and sent his vehicle headfirst into an oncoming sports-utility vehicle.

Crespo, 49, was partially ejected and suffered severe injuries to his head and face, Millville Police Capt. Mike Santiago said. He was airlifted to the Regional Trauma Unit at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City and is listed in critical condition.

It is unclear if Crespo was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.

The accident occurred about 9:30 a.m. and closed the roadway for several hours as police and emergency crews attended to the injured parties and then cleaned up.

According to police, the driver of the dump truck, 38-year-old Donald Espey, also of Millville, failed to notice Crespo turning in front of him. After his collision with the back of Crespo's work van, Espey's dump truck, which was carrying a load of stones, flipped on its side.

All three drivers, including 48-year-old Diane Camburn, of Woodbine, had to be removed from their vehicles by emergency personnel.

Camburn, Santiago said, suffered serious chest injuries - likely fractures - and was transported to South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Vineland, along with Espey, who suffered minor injuries to one or both of his legs.

According to the police, Espey will be issued a summons for his role in the accident.

Police continue to investigate the incident.