Crime & Safety

Emergency Crews Respond to Three-Car Accident, Two Fires

Some crews redirected to Henderson Avenue fire from scene of Jefferson Road blaze.

 

Thunderstorms swept through Princeton Thursday evening, sparking two structure fires- one on Jefferson Road and one on Henderson Avenue. 

Emergency crews responded to a three-car accident on Cherry Valley Road near the intersection of Heather Lane just across the Princeton/Montgomery border. According to Montgomery Township Police, a woman driving a BMW fishtailed at a sharp curve, sideswiped a Lexus, crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into another vehicle.

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The drivers of the BMW and the Lexus were unhurt, police said. First responders had to remove the door of the sedan that was struck head-on to free the female driver. She was taken by ambulance to the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro, police said.

Police closed Cherry Valley Road between Great Road and Province Line Road.

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The fires on Jefferson Road and Henderson Avenue were both sparked by lightning, according to Bob Gregory, Princeton's Director of Emergency Management. 

At about 5:30 p.m., a fire broke out on the second floor wall and attic of the home at 119 Jefferson Road. The house, which is under renovation, was empty, Princeton Fire Chief Dan Tomalin said. Because the walls were already removed for renovation, the fire was quickly knocked down, Tomalin said. The fire caused minimal damage, but the house did sustain water damage, according to Princeton Township Police Sgt. Mike Cifelli. 

Around 6 p.m., some of the firefighters at Jefferson Road were dispatched to 19 Henderson Avenue- off Mountain Avenue- after lightning sparked another fire. Gregory said a neighbor saw a flash of lightning strike behind the home, possibly a tree that towers in back of the house. Firefighters stretched a line into the attic and quickly extinguished the blaze, Princeton Deputy Fire Chief Roy James said. The home's attic and roof sustained significant damage, police said. 

Sporadic power outages were reported around town on Thursday night, police said. By early Friday morning, PSE&G was reporting no outages in either Princeton Township or Princeton Borough. 

In addition to the Princeton Fire Department, Montgomery, Plainsboro and Rocky Hill fire departments and Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad also responded to the Jefferson Road fire. Plainsboro, Rocky Hill and Lawrence Township fire departments, along with PFARS, responded to Henderson Avenue. Princeton Junction EMS responded to the Cherry Valley Road accident. 


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