The crash around 7 a.m. Tuesday involved three vehicles and shut down a portion of Route 57 in Franklin Township, Warren County.
An Easton man suffered serious injuries Tuesday in a three-vehicle crash that closed part of Route 57 in Warren County for three hours, New Jersey State Police said.
Eugene Ballarin, 51, was flown by helicopter to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill following the wreck about 7:05 a.m. in Franklin Township.
It happened at the intersection with Stewartsville Road when a tanker truck hit the back of a pickup truck and pushed the pickup into the path of Ballarin's car, said Lt. Brian Polite, a state police spokesman.
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Ballarin suffered serious head injuries and was in critical condition Tuesday afternoon, Polite said.
The pickup, operated by 22-year-old Ryan Wagner, of Boyertown, Pa., was westbound on Route 57 and about to turn left onto Stewartsville Road when it was struck by the tanker, Polite said.
The impact pushed the pickup into the eastbound lane, where it collided head-on with Ballarin's Nissan Sentra, Polite said.
Wagner received minor head and neck injuries and was taken by ambulance to St. Luke's Hospital in Phillipsburg, he said. The Peterbilt tanker was hauling gasoline and its driver, 43-year-old Rudy Baldeo of West Orange, N.J., wasn't hurt, Polite said.
He said it wasn't clear if those involved wore seat belts and it's too early to determine if charges are warranted.
"It's still an open investigation at this point," Polite said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: State police initially provided an incorrect spelling for the victim's last name.
Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.