FRANKLIN (Somerset) - A 31-year-old Montgomery Township man died over the weekend when his car struck a guardrail at the intersection of Grouser and Canal road, became airborne and dove into the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
The man's identity has not been released by officials.
Around 12:24 p.m. Aug. 24, Franklin police were notified by a kayaker about a motor vehicle in the canal, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
When police arrived at the intersection south of East Millstone, they found damage to the guardrails and several trees and spotted a motor vehicle submerged in the water.
The Somerset County Prosecutor Office Dive-Rescue Team was called and after arriving at the scene, divers went into the wate and found one person inside the car.
The occupant, identified as a resident of Montgomery's Skillman section, was removed from the vehicle by Dive Team members and pronounced dead at the scene.
The vehicle was removed from the water by Mike's Towing and Recovery, the prosecutor's office said.
A preliminary investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team and Franklin Township Police Department Traffic Investigators determined the 2024 Honda Civic was traveling west on Grouser Road approaching Canal Road where it ends.
The driver apparently drove into the intersection without stopping and struck the guardrails which caused the vehicle to become airborne.
The Honda then struck several road signs and a tree before landing in the canal.
The vehicle was found facing east bound and upright, according to the prosecutor's office.
Medical investigators from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office went to the scene and will be conducting a post-mortem examination to determine the cause and origin of death.
The investigation is continuing.
Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Montgomery man dies after car plunges into Delaware and Raritan Canal
Comments / 0