Crime & Safety
East Windsor Truck Fire Responsible For Missing Mail
The Sept. 11 Turnpike tractor trailer accident and resulting fire may have sent New Jersyans' mail up in smoke, but Gov. Chris Christie offers hope
Early last month, a tragic accident on the New Jersey Turnpike near Exit 8 in East Windsor trapped drivers on the southbound lanes for several hours.
An Oct. 1 press release issued by the state’s Department of the Treasury now indicates the incident may have had further reaching implications for New Jersey residents.
On Sept. 11 a box truck struck the rear of a Mack tractor semi trailer carrying a cargo of U.S. mail. The trucks were soon engulfed in flames, killing box truck driver Phillip Frey, 33, of Toms River, NJ.
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The blaze and resulting firefighting efforts reportedly destroyed nearly every piece of mail on board.
According to the press release, the truck was carrying one day’s worth of letters and packages, most likely collected between Sept. 7 and Sept. 10, to a variety of locations in central New Jersey, some bound for state government offices in Trenton and surrounding areas.
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Mail from zip codes beginning with 070 to 076, 078, 079, 088, and 089 were affected, so it is unlikely East Windsor, Hightstown, or Cranbury residents were impacted.
Gov. Chris Christie has subsequently ordered all state agencies to be flexible in the application of rules and regulations to those affected. The governor has also ordered state agencies to assist residents wherever possible.
Under his directive, affected individuals cannot be unfairly subjected to penalties or lose benefits from the state.
Residents are advised to check with appropriate agencies to determine the status of their filings, payments, and applications.
According to the press release, all agencies will post information on their websites explaining how affected citizens can obtain assistance with issues resulting from the destruction of their mail.
To find an agency’s website, residents may visit the governor’s website at http://www.state.nj.us/governor/ and click on the link at the top that says “Departments/Agencies,” and then click on the appropriate agency’s link.
Affected individuals may also call the Governor’s Constituent Relations Office at (609) 777‐2500.
