UPDATE: Woman Seriously Hurt in Route 23 Crash

Update-3:20 p.m.

Capt. Jeff Paul, a spokesman for Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi, said the accident occurred around 11:10 a.m. and idefintified the female as a 23-year-old from West Milford. She was driving a 1997 Toyota Camry, he said. 

Paul said the male driver of the F-350 pickup truck is a 26-year-old from Hewitt. According to the preliminary investigation, Paul said the truck struck the Camry after the male driver allegedly failed to yield to the red traffic signal. 

In addition to the Butler Police Department responding to the scene, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit responded, as well as the Pequannock Police Department and  

Update-2 p.m.

Capt. Ciro Chimento confirmed that no fatalities resulted from the motor vehicle accident on Route 23 Tuesday afternoon but that a female driver was in serious condition following the crash and was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson via medevac helicopter.

According to Chimento, the preliminary report indicated a male driver was traveling south on Route 23 when he allegedly disregarded a red traffic signal and crashed into a vehicle being driven by a female driver crossing Morse Avenue. Chimento said the male driver, whose name and age were not yet released, was driving a truck.

Chimento said the male driver was not injured but the female driver, whose name was also not released until next of kin was notified, was. Chimento also said the female's vehicle was extensively damaged.

Traffic resumed in all three lanes at about 2 p.m.

Update-1:50 p.m.

Traffic appears to be oving as normal on Route 23 North although the left lane is still blocked off.

Update-12:29 p.m.

Butler Police sent out a Nixle alert at 12:24 p.m.

"Please avoid this area for the next six hours. Use alternate route if possible. Expect major delays," the alert said.

Update-12:12 p.m.

The state Department of Transportation has just arrived on the scene and is placing cones and restricting traffic to one lane on Route 23 North.

Update-11:55 a.m.

Traffic is slowed in both directions of Route 23 in as police and fire officials are on the scene of an apparent motor vehicle accident at the Morse Avenue intersection by

A grey vehicle appears to be crushed and distorted.

Former Butler Councilwoman Judy Woop reported around 11:50 a.m. that she saw a blue medevac helicopter land on the field at the and that a stretcher was waiting for a victim.

were not immediately available for comment. were also on the scene.

Patch will have updates on this story.

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