Box Truck Loses Brakes, Slams Into Middle Valley Road Guardrail, Cops Say

A motorist came away uninjured after the brakes on his box truck failed, sending him into a guardrail on Middle Valley Road last week, Washington Township Police said.

Roland Phillips, of East Orange, was driving a truck for Gibraltar Van Lines south on Zellers Road last Monday when his brakes failed, Lt. Mark Niemynski said. As the truck continued south it gained speed at which point Phillips lost control, Niemynski said.

The truck then traveled off the roadway to the right as it entered the Zellers Road intersection with Middle Valley Road, striking the guardrail on the south side of Middle Valley Road and heading up an embankment, Niemynski said.

The truck also struck a telephone pole and stop sign before coming to a rest lodged in the guardrail, Niemynski said. The truck sustained major damage to the front bumper, cab, and rear box area, as well as the cargo inside.

The entire length of the guardrail on the southern portion of Middle Valley Road was damaged, Niemynski said. Phillips did not seek medical attention.

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