TRENTON — New Jersey's first taste of winter may be to blame for a fatal crash in South Jersey on Thursday.

State Police Trooper Alejandro Goez said a pickup truck overturned on the Atlantic City Expressway westbound around 7:15 a.m. after it came off the ramp from the Garden State Parkway. The driver of the truck was killed in the crash, according to Goez, who did not disclose their identity.

The crash closed two westbound lanes of the Expressway until 11 a.m. for an investigation. Goez said the right lane remained closed for guard rail repair along with the Parkway ramp.

The area received a light coating of snow overnight but Goez did not know if that played a role in the crash. An inch of snow fell in Evesham, Mount Holly and Jackson while a half-inch was measured in Forked River according to the National Weather Service.

The snow fell as a cold front crossed New Jersey bringing frigid arctic air and strong, gusty winds.

"A fierce wind will increase as well, with regular wind gusts to 30 or 40 mph. The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union counties from 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. Thursday," meteorologist Dan Zarrow said.

Snow squalls later in the morning moved across New Jersey causing whiteout conditions in northern areas of the state. New Jersey Fast Traffic's Bob Williams encountered one on Route 78 in Watchung around 10:30 a.m.

"It was amazing. Between 287 and Route 24 the condition went from fine to a quarter-mile visibility and the road became snow covered very quickly," said Williams.

Speed on the Garden State Parkway was lowered to 35 mph on Thursday morning after the morning commute between the Driscoll Bridge and Route 78 for snow covered roads and treatment of the roads.

Newark Liberty International Airport has delays on departures of 30 minutes at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday afternoon because of the wind according to FlightAware.com.

The cold weather has also closed Six Flags Great Adventure on Friday night but will be open on Saturday and Sunday.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

 

 

 

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