Belvidere Man Dies, Two Injured in Route 46 Crash

A 34-year-old Belvidere man was killed in a two-car accident on Route 46 in Budd Lake Thursday morning, while two others were taken to the hospital, according to Mount Olive police.

Christopher Connors was pronounced dead at Hackettstown Regional Medical Center after succumbing to injuries sustained in the crash, police said. 

Police said Connors was traveling eastbound on Route 46 near the intersection of Woodland Avenue shortly after 6 a.m. when the 2003 Honda Accord he was driving crossed from the eastbound lane into the westbound lane.

At that point, police said his car collided head-on with a 1997 Chevrolet van that was traveling westbound in the right lane. The force of the crash caused Connors' vehicle to leave the roadway and come to rest in the parking lot of George's Liquors, police said.

The van was driven by Robert Gascoigne, 58, of Denville, and his wife, Louise Gascoigne, 45, was in the passenger's seat, police said. Police said Louise Gascoigne was extricated from the van with the Jaws of Life and was transported by Atlantic Air-1 medical helicopter to Morrstown Medical Center for leg and hip injuries. Robert Gascoigne was transported to Morristown Medical Center for minor injuries. 

Police said CPR was started on Connors, who was transported by medical personnel to Hackettstown Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Police said that Connors was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Route 46 westbound was closed and diverted between Netcong Road and Woodland Avenue from 6:15 to 9 a.m. for the investigation, police said.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Morris County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Section assisted at the scene with the investigation, police said. Also assisting with the incident was the Budd Lake Fire Department, Budd Lake First Aid Squad, paramedics from St. Clare’s Health System, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation, according to police.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Mount Olive Police Department at 973-691-0850. Police said the investigation is ongoing.