Route 73 in Marlton, New Jersey, has reopened following a fatal crash that occurred early Friday morning.
Authorities said the incident began when an Evesham Township police officer attempted to stop a driver around 4:30 a.m. near Greentree Road. The driver later collided with another vehicle at Lincoln Road and was pronounced dead at the scene; the identity of the driver has not yet been released.
The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General is leading the investigation, as is standard procedure when a fatality occurs during police encounters. Officials confirmed that an Evesham police officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and received medical treatment. The police vehicle was not involved in the crash.
Witnesses reported seeing a high-speed chase prior to the collision. A nearby observer described the driver navigating a hill before crashing into the rear of a tractor-trailer. Emergency services responded, but traffic was significantly delayed until the scene was cleared.
A vehicle remained heavily damaged on the driver’s side as authorities worked on the investigation, which is ongoing. Lane closures were in effect during the response but have since been lifted.