A Skillman Man, 31, Died After His Car Crashed through a Guardrail into the D&R Canal

By Barbara A. Preston | Posted August 28, 2024

A 31-year-old driver from the Skillman section of Montgomery Township died after he crashed his car into the Delaware & Raritan Canal in Franklin Township. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Officer released the information this morning. The identity of the man is being withheld.

The location of the accident was Canal Road and Grouser Road. Vehicles must turn right or left where Grouser Road ends at Canal Road. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Officers arriving on scene found damage to the guardrail and several trees, and were able to observe a motor vehicle submerged in the water. The vehicle was first observed by a kayaker who reported the submerged vehicle to police. 

THE GUARDRAIL before the accident at Grouser and Canal roads in Franklin Township, just south of East Millstone. (Google Photos.)

Franklin Township Police responded to scene on Saturday, August 24, at about 12:30 pm. The Somerset County Dive Rescue Team recovered the deceased male occupant from the submerged vehicle in the canal. It is unknown as of this writing as to when the vehicle left the roadway into the canal.

Investigator’s will attempt to determine a timeline as part of the investigation, Chief Francisco Roman Jr. told The Montgomery News.

The man was headed westbound in a 2024 Honda Civic on Grouser Road, approaching Canal Road, struck the guard rail in front of the canal and the vehicle went into the air, he said. The car then struck several signs and a tree before landing in the water.

Medical Investigators from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene.  A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause and origin of death. 

The matter remains under investigation by the Franklin Township Police Department, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Team and the NJ Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.

The deceased man was the sole occupant in the vehicle, which has been removed from the canal by Mikes Towing and Recovery.

Anyone with information relating to this incident should contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908.231.7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732.873.5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.