Driver Dead after Crashing through a Guardrail into the Millstone River in Montgomery Township

By Barbara A. Preston | Posted Monday, March 18, 2024

A 31-year-old man driving east on Belle Mead-Griggstown Road crashed through a guardrail and into the Millstone River on Saturday, March 16, at 6:10 am. The vehicle left the roadway, coming to rest on its roof against the embankment on the opposite side of the river, police said. The driver later died from his injuries.

The site of the deadly car crash. A concrete berm was installed to replace the metal guardrail at the Belle Mead-Griggstown Road/Route 630 intersection in Montgomery Township. (Photo by The Montgomery News.)

Montgomery Township Police identified the driver as Erik Rivera, 31, of New Brunswick. He died shortly after he was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-New Brunswick.

This is the second fatal accident involving a vehicle crashing into the river at the Route 630 (Millstone River Road) intersection, just south of the Griggstown Causeway. A 21-year-old driver crashed through the same guardrail in December 2004 and he and his vehicle landed on the bank across the Millstone River. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the NJ State Police 2004 Fatal Accidents Report. The cause of that accident was listed as a suicide.

In addition, a third serious accident involving a vehicle crashing into the Millstone River happened in 1995 at this same intersection.

The March 16 Crash

Montgomery Township Police say that Rivera was driving a 2011 Lexus GS350 east on Belle Mead-Griggstown Road when he failed to halt at a stop sign early on Saturday morning, proceeded through the Route 630 intersection, and crashed through the guardrail at the intersection. The car was partially submerged in water, and the driver had to be removed from the vehicle by first responders.

Montgomery Police, Montgomery EMS, RWJ University Hospital Medics, Montgomery Fire Companies 1 and 2, the Somerset County Dive Team, and Griggstown Volunteer Fire Company responded to County Route 533 (River Rd) near the intersection of Belle Mead-Griggstown Rd for the report of a motor vehicle into the Millstone River. 

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The roadway was closed for more than six hours while police investigated, and repairs were made to

the guardrail. Police said the cause of the accident is unknown at this point.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact

Officer Tim Giaccone with the MTPD Traffic Division at 908.359.3222.