Bridgewater, NJ — March 5, 2025, Peter Della-Ventura and Moosada Harris were injured in a truck accident at about 2:10 a.m. on U.S. Route 22.

Authorities said a westbound Hyundai Elantra crashed into a tanker truck that was turning out of a gas station parking lot. The impact caused both vehicles to burst into flames.

A police officer who was on patrol in the area was able to rescue Hyundai driver Peter J. Della-Ventura, 44, was unconscious and trapped in the burning car, according to authorities.

Peter J. Della-Ventura and passenger Moosada Harris, 26, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Somerset County crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

A crash where a passenger vehicle collides with a tanker truck and both burst into flames raises serious concerns beyond just who had the right of way. My experience handling truck accident cases has shown me that when vehicles catch fire after a crash, there’s often more to investigate than just the initial impact.

One of the first questions investigators should ask is whether the tanker truck’s turn was executed safely. Tankers, especially when full, take longer to accelerate and require wide turns. Was the truck blocking the roadway for an extended time? Did its driver misjudge the speed of oncoming traffic? Investigators should review surveillance footage from the gas station, if available, to determine how the truck entered the highway.

Another critical issue is why both vehicles caught fire. While severe crashes can lead to fires, vehicle design and maintenance often play a role. Was the tanker properly maintained, and was it carrying a flammable substance? If so, were all required safety measures in place to prevent fuel leaks? Similarly, was the Hyundai’s fuel system compromised in a way that made the fire worse? Fires like these don’t just happen: they result from design flaws, maintenance issues or a combination of both.

The fact that a police officer was able to pull one of the victims from a burning vehicle highlights how quickly fires can escalate after a crash. That’s why a proper investigation needs to go beyond the immediate wreckage and look at road design, vehicle safety systems and whether this fire was preventable. Without that level of scrutiny, the true risks of similar crashes may go unaddressed.