Man, 39, killed in crash
By jamie dougher
Staff Writer
MONROE — A man who was in town to visit his father last week was killed in a car accident in the early morning hours of July 4.

Joseph Scranton, 39, of Hudson, Mass., was traveling west on Rhode Hall Road when his 2003 Ford Thunderbird convertible veered off the road to the right and struck a tree, a fire hydrant and then another tree before overturning down an embankment, according to police reports.

Scranton was thrown from the vehicle before it overturned and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Sgt. Kenneth Gross of the Monroe Township Police Department said police believe it is unlikely that Scranton was wearing his seat belt.

Police are awaiting the results of toxicology reports, expected to take 10 to 12 weeks, to determine whether alcohol played a role in the accident.

It was not determined whether Scranton was speeding on the 40 mph road.

Scranton was reportedly driving home to his father’s house on Rhode Hall Road at about 3 a.m. when the accident occurred.

The accident took place within one month of a June 10 accident in which a Rhode Hall Road woman was struck by a car while retrieving mail from the mailbox in front of her house. Though the driver of the vehicle left the scene of that accident, a Jamesburg man was later charged with driving while intoxicated in connection with the hit and run. The 24-year-old victim of that accident is recovering from her injuries.

Gross said he does not see the road as a problem area for motorists.

"It is a major artery," he said. "It just happens to be a coincidence."