Maurice River Twp, NJ : Driver fell asleep in fatal Route 55 head-on collision in Cumberland County on Thursday morning, September 22, 2016

One of the drivers in Thursday morning's fatal Route 55 head-on collision fell asleep at the wheel before crashing into another car, according to New Jersey State Police.

Troopers were dispatched Thursday to Milemarker 20.4 on Route 55 in Maurice River Township. The incident involved a Chevrolet Silverado, a Ford Fusion and a tractor trailer. No charges were issued as of Thursday afternoon.

A 27-year-old Port Norris man was driving the Silverado southbound on Route 55 just after dawn when he allegedly fell asleep and drove the pickup truck into the northbound lane — striking the Ford Fusion driven by 62-year-old Lydia Brannon.

Brannon lost control of her vehicle and drove into the southbound lane, colliding into a tractor trailer driven by a 38-year-old Maryland man.

Authorities pronounced Brannon dead at the scene at 6:22 a.m. Brannon is from Philadelphia but, according to her family, she was living in Avalon.

The tractor-trailer driver was taken to Inspira Medical Center Vineland for non-life-threatening injuries. The Silverado driver, who was not identified by police, was treated at the scene.

Local police and fire departments assisted at the scene, directing traffic while lanes were shut down during the investigation.

Authorities do not believe that drugs or alcohol are involved in the crash.

Source :
Driver fell asleep in fatal Route 55 head-on collision, police say