Montgomery News Staff | June 22, 2026
A Ford Explorer, operated by James Murray III, 21, of West Milford, was traveling south on Route 206 on Thursday, June 4, when it crossed the double-yellow centerline into the northbound lane at 5:14 am. The Ford then collided head-on with a Peterbilt dump truck, which was traveling northbound and operated by Alejandro Almelo-Alvarez, 30, of Sayreville, according to Montgomery police.
The dump truck overturned onto its passenger side in the northbound lane of Route 206. Luckily, the driver was able to exit the vehicle with the assistance of a passing motorist and reported no injuries. Murray, the Ford Explorer driver, was trapped inside his vehicle and needed to be extracted by first responders. He was transported by medevac helicopter to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick with serious injuries.
Montgomery Township Police responded to the Route 206 crash, near the Hillsborough Township border and were met by first responders from Montgomery Fire Companies No. 1 and No. 2, Montgomery Township EMS, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset Mobile Intensive Care Unit personnel. All worked to successfully extricated the driver from the vehicle.
Route 206 was closed in both directions for an extended period while emergency personnel conducted crash scene operations and roadway cleanup. The closure was necessary due to a significant fuel spill and the removal of a load of gravel that was released when the dump truck overturned.
The Montgomery Township Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Hillsborough Township Police Department, Somerset County Hazardous Materials Response Team, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation/New Jersey State Police Incident Management Response Team.
The crash remains under investigation by the Montgomery Township Police Department.
Montgomery Police responded to Wawa for a motor vehicle crash on June 13 at 12:02 pm. Police determined Katharine Zavoda, 19, of Belle Mead, was operating a 2021 Mazda and while pulling into a parking spot, inadvertently accelerated, resulting in the vehicle driving over the curb, through a fence, billlboard, and retaining wall.
Zavoda was not injured and the vehicle was towed from the scene. Zavoda was issued a summons for careless driving and is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Municipal Court.
Montgomery Police responded to Jersey Mike’s Subs for a reported counterfeit $20 bill. Two individuals had entered the store and purchased a bottle of water using the counterfeit currency. Employees determined the bill was counterfeit after the transaction was completed. Police are investigating.
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On June 13 at 1:11am, Montgomery Police Officer Dwyer stopped a vehicle on Route 206 operated by Bhupendra Sharma, 62 of Hillsborough for speeding. During the course of the stop, Officer Dwyer determined Sharma had consumed alcoholic beverages prior to driving. Sharma was subsequently arrested for driving while intoxicated and transported to MTPD HQ for processing. Sharma was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving. and speeding. He was released and is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Municipal Court.
On June 17 at 9:54 pm, Montgomery Police Officer Stratton stopped a vehicle on Belle Mead-Griggstown Road operated by Jehu Lopez-Sanchez, 29, of Flemington for failing to maintain the lane of travel. During the course of the stop, Officer Stratton determined Lopez-Sanchez consumed alcoholic beverages prior to driving. Lopez-Sanchez was subsequently arrested for driving while intoxicated and transported to MTPD HQ for processing. Lopez-Sanchez was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving, failure to maintain lane, driving without a license, failure to provide vehicle registration and failure to provide proof of insurance. Lopez-Sanchez was released and is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Municipal Court.
On June 20 at 12:21 pm, Montgomery Police, Montgomery Fire Companies 1 and 2, and Montgomery EMS responded along with Rocky Hill Fire Company and Princeton Fire Department to Building 4 at the Princeton Garden Apartments for a kitchen fire due to cooking. Fire personnel extinguished the fire, which resulted in the apartment becoming uninhabitable. The residents were not injured.
All charges are merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
