One passenger was airlifted to a trauma center after the VNA van at right collided with the dump truck, at left. (Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
A passenger injured when a tour van collided with a dump truck in Rumson Thursday is in critical condition, authorities said Friday.
Details about the incident remained undisclosed as authorities withheld the identity of the victim, by name, age, town of residence or gender. The passenger was transported by helicopter to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune after the crash.
Nine people were in the Visiting Nurse Association van, said First Assistant Prosecutor Rick Incremona of the Monmouth County Prosecutor‘s office, which is investigating. Two incurred minor injuries, he said.
No charges have been filed, said Incremona, who declined to identify the van’s driver.
Rumson police Chief Scott Paterson said that because the investigation has been taken over by the prosecutor, his department is prohibited from releasing any information.
The crash, at 1:19 p.m, occurred as the van carried customers of the VNA’s Stately Homes by the Sea tour, an annual fundraiser in which grand mansions and gardens are opened to sightseers. The van appeared to have rear-ended the dump truck as both headed east on Rumson Road at Conover Lane.
The force of the impact shattered the van’s windshield and folded its roof down in the area of the front passenger seat, where the seriously injured passenger was riding.
In response to requests by redbankgreen for information about who was in the van and who was injured, VNA CEO Steve Landers said this in an email Friday:
We are saddened that there were injuries, and our thoughts and prayers are with them. We will continue to cooperate with the investigation of the details, but have no more details at this time. VNA is about health and community, and we are continuing this commitment to caring, and hoping anyone who was injured makes a full recovery.
