Crane Falls From Truck, Injures Two on Rte 287 in Hanover Township, NJ

Hanover Township, NJ (September 16, 2026) – A crane fell from a flatbed truck and struck a passenger vehicle on Route 287 south, near milepost 39.8, on Wednesday morning, September 16, leaving two people with minor injuries. 

The truck was hauling the crane on a trailer when the load struck a bridge overpass support beam, according to New Jersey State Police.

Emergency units were called to the highway around 7:40 a.m. The crane came loose from the trailer and fell onto a Volvo SUV traveling below, police said.

Both the driver and passenger of the Volvo were hurt and taken to a hospital for treatment. Their injuries were described as minor.

Officials continue to investigate the wreck. 

We hope both drivers make a full and speedy recovery.

Who May Be Liable When Cargo Falls From a Commercial Truck in Hanover Township, NJ?

When cargo comes loose from a commercial truck and causes injuries in New Jersey, liability does not always rest with the truck driver alone. Under state law, a trucking company can be held responsible if it failed to properly load or secure equipment before a trip. 

Federal cargo securement regulations set specific standards for how heavy loads must be fastened, and a violation of those standards can serve as evidence of negligence in a personal injury claim.

Beyond the driver and the trucking company, other parties can sometimes share responsibility. A separate company hired to load or secure the cargo, a maintenance provider responsible for trailer equipment, or even the manufacturer of a faulty securing mechanism may all play a role depending on what caused the load to shift. 

Sorting out which party bears responsibility usually depends on records that are not always easy for an injured person to obtain on their own, such as loading manifests, maintenance logs, or driver inspection reports. 

These documents can show whether cargo was secured according to applicable standards and whether mechanical failure played a role in a load coming loose. A truck accident lawyer can help identify which parties may need to be contacted and request the records necessary to evaluate a potential claim.

At Metro Law, we have experience helping clients evaluate cargo-related trucking claims across New Jersey. If cargo securement or equipment failure may have played a role in your accident, we can help determine which parties should be looked at further. 

You can call Metro Law at (800) 469-6476 to talk about your case with our team and understand your options moving forward.