Car crash claims another life

SPARTA-A woman died on Tuesday in a car accident in Sparta. This is the third automobile victim recorded in the township in the last two weeks. The latest fatality took place at 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5 on Route 15 near Layton Lane. The collision involved a southbound passenger vehicle and a northbound tractor-trailer. At press time, the name of the victim had not been released pending notification of relatives. The operator of the passenger vehicle was transported to Dover Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The operator of the truck was transported to Newton Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. The preliminary investigation revealed that the passenger vehicle crossed into the northbound lane, causing the fatal accident. The Sparta First Aid Squad, the Sparta Fire Department, Saint Clares Mobile Intensive Care Unit, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Sussex County Crash Reconstruction Unit, and members of the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office assisted at the scene. The collision resulted in the closure of the highway in both directions for over two hours while the accident was investigated and the roadway was cleared.