Tragedy on the Turnpike: Wrong-Way Crash in Bergen County Leaves One Dead, One Severely Injured
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgefield Park NJ, a devastating early-morning collision on the New Jersey Turnpike claimed the life of a Pennsylvania man and left a New York driver fighting for his life. The head-on crash, which occurred in Ridgefield Park, shut down lanes for hours as investigators worked to determine how a vehicle ended up traveling the wrong way on one of the state’s busiest highways.
Head-On Collision Near Mile Marker 117.8
According to the New Jersey State Police, the accident took place just before 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Authorities report that Bruce Canfield, 44, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was operating a Ford pickup truck traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of the Turnpike. Near mile marker 117.8, Canfield’s truck slammed head-on into a Honda sedan driven by 39-year-old Guillermo Mollins of Poughkeepsie, New York.
Fatal Injuries and Emergency Response
The impact was catastrophic. After striking the sedan, the pickup truck careened into a concrete barrier.
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Fatal Victim: Bruce Canfield sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Serious Injuries: Guillermo Mollins suffered “serious injuries” and was rushed to a local trauma center. His current condition has not been made public.
New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron confirmed that the crash remains under active investigation. It is currently unclear where the wrong-way driver entered the highway or if impairment played a factor in the collision.
The Growing Danger of Wrong-Way Driving
This incident is the latest in a worrying trend of wrong-way accidents on major New Jersey arteries. State officials have recently explored installing “Wrong Way” LED alert systems and thermal sensors on exit ramps to prevent drivers from entering highways in the wrong direction.
Key Safety Tips for Nighttime Driving:
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Stay in the Right Lane: Wrong-way drivers often believe they are in the slow lane, which is actually the high-speed “fast” lane for oncoming traffic.
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Scan the Horizon: Look beyond the car in front of you for headlights that look “off” or out of place.
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Report Immediately: If you spot a wrong-way driver, call 911 immediately after safely pulling over.
What’s Next in the Investigation?
State Police are expected to review traffic camera footage from the Ridgefield Park stretch of the Turnpike. Toxicology reports from the medical examiner’s office are also pending.
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