Truck driver killed in fiery NJ crash: Passaic County Prosecutor

CLIFTON, N.J. (PIX11) – A tractor-trailer burst into flames on Route 3 near Valley Road in New Jersey Monday, killing one person, officials said.

A bus rear-ended the tractor trailer around 9 a.m., sending the truck into the Route 3 barrier, according to Clifton Acting Fire Chief Daniel Collins. The truck burst into flames, and the driver of the truck was killed, according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes.

No other injuries have been reported.

The truck had a placard indicating it had corrosive and explosive chemicals on board, Collins said. A spokesperson for Brenntag, the company that owns and operates the truck, said it was carrying flammable, non-toxic materials.

All lanes on the eastbound side of Route 3 were closed near Route 46 in Clifton, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution, according to the Clifton Police Department.

A video posted to social media shows a truck split down the middle with massive flames engulfing one side of the freeway. At one point, a piece of debris on fire shoots away from the truck toward the center divider.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.