Police: Cement truck crashes into liquor store; 2 injured in wreck

Police say a cement truck and an SUV collided near the intersection of Route 22 and Washington Street this morning before the truck careened off the road and hit a liquor store in Green Brook Township. Two people were injured.

News 12 Staff

Jun 30, 2022, 12:24 PM

Updated 886 days ago

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Police say a cement truck and an SUV collided near the intersection of Route 22 and Washington Street this morning before the truck careened off the road and hit a liquor store in Green Brook Township. Two people were injured. 
The crash happened around 6:45 a.m. at Rip's Liquor Shop located at 1021 Washington Ave., just off Route 22. 
According to police, the truck driver was driving west on Washington when there was a collision with another vehicle on Route 22. The truck lost control and crashed into the building. 
Courtesy: Eddie Pfeifer
Police say one driver was airlifted to a hospital, while the other was rushed by ambulance. News 12 is told both had serious injuries. 
The owners are trying to get back on their feet, while the two drivers are in the hospital. Store owner Karen Dieu has been running the place for the past 35 years. 
"I am just feeling very sick," says Dieu. "So immediately, I drove here, to see what happened and I think I have an ulcer now, I think I have to go home and lie down." 
Surveillance video from nearby Casey's Interiors across the street shows the moment the wreck happened. 
"When we arrived, we found the cement mixer in the back of the building with the driver still entrapped," says assistant fire chief Richard Connolly. "We opened the doors and extricated the driver by taking his seat out and turned him over to EMS." 
Dieu says this will be the first time the business has ever closed in its 35-year history. 
"Very sad that we have to close and we never close one day, not even Christmas or New Year's but unfortunately, we have to close out. This is my, like, my second home. My baby. My daughter is even younger than this building!" says Dieu. 
Dieu does not know when the business will be able to reopen -- insurance still has to take a look -- but she promises it will be back.