Firefighters forced off I‑80 crash scene as drivers ignored travel ban and endangered crews
Allamuchy firefighters say despite travel bans, passing vehicles created dangerous conditions.
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Allamuchy firefighters say drivers ignoring the state’s travel ban created dangerous conditions during the blizzard.
Fire officials say a tractor-trailer crash Sunday night turned into a unsafe situation for first responders because other drivers pushed through the travel ban on the snow-covered interstate.
"What should have been a controlled emergency scene turned into one of the most dangerous operating environments our crews have dealt with in a long time — and not because of the wreck, but because of the traffic," the Allamuchy Fire Department wrote in a social media post. "Despite active New Jersey travel restrictions, a commercial vehicle ban, multiple marked police units, fire apparatus, an ambulance, tow trucks and emergency lighting visible from a distance, vehicles kept coming. Cars kept pushing through. Tractor-trailers kept rolling past."
Crews were responding to a tractor-trailer rollover on I-80 around 11:30 p.m. Firefighters say multiple emergency units were on the roadway, including New Jersey State Police, tow trucks, EMS and Hazmat crews, along with fire trucks. Passing vehicles kept coming as first responders tried to manage the scene, often endangering the crews.
"Real people. Someone’s family. Someone’s parent. Someone trying to do their job and go home afterward. And while they were out there, we were nearly struck at least four separate times by passing vehicles. Not once. Four times," the fire department's post said.
Officials say crews were forced to clear the scene due to the dangerous conditions.
"Let that sink in — emergency responders had to walk away from an active crash because drivers made the highway more dangerous than the incident itself," the fire department posted.
Officials say they posted about the situation to remind motorists that travel bans "are not a friendly suggestion" to ignore when in a rush. They're put in place for the safety of everyone on the road, including first responders.
"If you choose to drive anyway, understand this: Your trip to wherever you needed to be was not more important than the lives of the responders standing on that interstate," Allamuchy fire officials said. "Slow down. Stay home when restrictions are in place. Respect emergency scenes."
