Sideswipe Triggers Head-On Crash on US-33 in Howell, NJ

Howell Township, NJ (September 16, 2026) – A pickup driver was seriously hurt Tuesday morning, September 15, after losing control and striking another vehicle head-on on US Highway 33. 

The 38-year-old Beachwood resident was driving a 2023 Dodge Ram westbound around 6:20 a.m. when the truck sideswiped a 2023 Freightliner tractor-trailer.

The pickup then rotated and crossed the centerline before striking a 2024 Ford F-250 head-on. The impact sent the F-250 into a guardrail and a nearby utility pole.

The Dodge Ram driver was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The F-250 driver, a 59-year-old Brick resident, suffered minor injuries and was also transported for treatment, while the tractor-trailer driver, a 51-year-old Lakehurst resident, was not hurt.

The wreck remains under review by Howell Township police. 

We hope everyone injured recovers fully. 

How Fault Is Determined After Multi-Vehicle Crashes in Howell Township, NJ

When three or more vehicles are involved in a single chain of events in New Jersey, sorting out who bears legal responsibility can get complicated fast. The state follows a modified comparative negligence rule, so a driver found more than 50 percent at fault for causing a wreck cannot recover damages at all, while a driver found partially at fault can still recover a reduced amount. 

Establishing the sequence of events matters enormously in these cases. Police reports, vehicle positioning, and physical evidence like skid marks or point of impact can all help reconstruct what happened and in what order. 

When a chain reaction involves a commercial vehicle, additional records may come into play, since companies that operate tractor-trailers are usually required to maintain logs, maintenance records, and driver qualification files that can become relevant to a claim.

Sorting through these competing accounts is rarely something a driver can do alone, especially while also dealing with medical treatment or vehicle repairs. Insurance adjusters that represent different drivers may each present a version of events that minimizes their own client's share of fault, which can leave an injured person facing conflicting narratives with little guidance on how to respond. 

A car accident lawyer can help gather and organize the police report, medical records, and any available physical evidence, then use that documentation to build a clearer picture of how fault should be allocated among the drivers involved. 

At Metro Law, we are open to helping car accident victims across New Jersey better understand their options under state law. Our team can go over the details of your accident and guide you through your next possible steps. 

If you have any doubts after being involved in a crash, do not hesitate to contact Metro Law at (800) 469-6476. We're glad to talk through what the claims process may look like for you.