Police Recover Body of Man Submerged in Car that Crashed into Delaware-Raritan Canal

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ - Police divers have recovered the body of a 31-year-old man submerged in a car that had crashed through a guard rail alongside the Delaware-Raritan Canal on Saturday afternoon according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.

Police were called by a kayaker who spotted the car in the waterway near the intersection of Canal Road and Grouser Road, according to Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr.

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Fraklin Township police officers spotted the car, which had landed in an upright position and found damage to the guardrails, road signs and several trees.

The Somerset County Prosecutor Office Dive-Rescue Team responded, entered the water and found one occupant inside of the submerged vehicle, identified as a resident of Skillman. The victim was removed from the vehicle by Dive Team members and pronounced deceased at the scene.

The vehicle was removed from the canal by Mike's Towing and Recovery.

Preliminary investigation has determined that the recovered vehicle, a 2024 Honda Civic, was traveling westbound on Grouser Road approaching Canal Road, which terminates at Canal Road requiring westbound vehicles to turn either right or left, according to Roman. The driver entered the intersection without stopping and struck the guardrail which sent the vehicle airborne, Roman added.

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The vehicle struck several road signs and a tree before landing in the canal. The vehicle was found facing east bound and upright.

Medical Investigators from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office responded; a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause and origin of death. The investigation is ongoing.

McDonald and Roman request anyone with information relating to this incident to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at (908) 231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533 or via the STOPit app.

The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access
code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).

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