Trucks Strike Railroad Overpass on Watchung Avenue

Police issued several summonses between Friday, April 29 and Sunday, May 1 for moving violations in Chatham Borough.

Truck Hits Bridge

Patrolman Brian Maher responded to a motor vehicle accident on Watchung Avenue at approximately 11:50 a.m. Friday, according to a police statement.

Upon arrival he found that a 1997 truck operated by Charles Carter of New Brunswick had struck the railroad overpass, police said.

The bridge is marked at 11 feet 4 inches, and the truck was 12 feet 1 inch high, police said. The truck was wedged under the bridge, police said.

DeFalco's Towing removed the truck from underneath the bridge, police said. Carter was issued a summons for failure to observe a traffic control device and was released pending further court acton, according to police.

Van vs. Motorcycle

At 1:17 p.m. Friday, Patrolman Brian Maher responded to another accident at the intersection of Main Street and Coleman Avenue, police said.

Madison resident David Gravel, 62, was stopped in traffic on his motorcycle when he was struck from behind by a van driven by Dulci Chamberlain, 37, of North Arlington, according to police.

Gravel was knocked off of the motorcycle and was complaining of pain, police said.

Chamberlain was issued summonses for careless driving and failure to inspect her vehicle, according to police.

Hit and Run

At 2:41 p.m. Friday, Patrolman Daryle Kelly responded to a hit-and-run accident on Center Place, police said.

Kelly found that a parked 2008 Jaguar had been struck by a vehicle backing out of a driveway, according to a police statement.

The vehicle fled the scene but a witness was able to obtain a license plate, police said.

The vehicle that struck the Jaguar was located at the owner's home in Madison. The driver, Eugene Bartell, 69, was charged with careless driving, improper backing into a street, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident, according to police.

Truck Hits Bridge (Again)

On Sunday, May 1, Sgt. Michael Mahoney responed to an accident on Watchung Avenue at 6:36 a.m., police said.

He discovered that a 1994 GMC truck driven by James Vanderburgh, 42, of Waterford, NY had struck the railroad overpass, police said.

DeFalco's Towing removed the truck from the scene, police said.

Vanderburgh was issued summonses for careless driving and driving while his license was suspended, according to police. He was released pending further court action, police said.