Two Drivers Hit Same Utility Pole 14 Hours Apart During Nor’easter
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Glen Rock NJ, a stretch of Route 208 in Glen Rock became a danger zone last month when two separate drivers crashed into the same utility pole just 14 hours apart. According to Glen Rock Police, the crashes were no coincidence—they were the direct result of hydroplaning caused by heavy rain and poor drainage during a spring nor’easter.
⚠️ Crash Timeline: Two Accidents, One Pole
The twin crashes occurred just south of Lincoln Avenue during a daylong storm:
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First Crash – 5:35 a.m.
A 2015 Dodge Ram driven by a 53-year-old Airmont, NY man skidded off the roadway, striking a utility pole, a traffic sign, and a guardrail. The truck rolled over but fortunately, the driver was unharmed. The vehicle suffered significant damage and had to be towed. PSE&G crews responded to replace the destroyed pole. -
Second Crash – 7:37 p.m.
Just hours later, a 2021 Acura TLX, driven by a 23-year-old from Hollywood, Florida, slammed into the newly installed utility pole—again, damaging the same guardrail. The driver was also uninjured, but the vehicle was towed due to major damage. PSE&G once again replaced the utility pole.
🌧️ The Cause: Hydroplaning Due to Rainwater Accumulation
Police later confirmed that both crashes were caused by hydroplaning, the result of standing water on Route 208. The Department of Transportation responded to police requests and eventually cleared the storm drains on that portion of the highway.
“Investigation determined that the contributing circumstance in both crashes was due to hydroplaning caused by rainwater accumulation on the highway,” Glen Rock Police said in a statement.
🚗 Safety Tips: How to Avoid Hydroplaning
The Glen Rock Police Department issued the following safety reminders for wet-weather driving:
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Slow down on wet roads
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Avoid puddles and standing water
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Check your tire pressure and tread depth regularly
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Avoid sudden movements like hard braking or sharp turning
Hydroplaning can happen in an instant. Awareness and preparation are key to staying safe.
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You know what is amazing, is that some of these towns send our police cruisers to sit on 208 to do radar, generate money, yes, money, but yet none of these towns do any kind of maintenance on 208, why is that, Because there’s no money for that, to avoid situations that occur, flooding, accidents, debris, that is a hypocrite. Local towns have no business sitting on a state highway to generate money, with all the other things that are going on in East town robberies, Important problems. How do they find time to go sit on 208. That’s such bullshit. And a lot of those individuals doing speed traps, is entrapment. It’s amazing. We’re paying taxes for police the police, our towns, not to go sit on highways those funds come from BERGEN County, and the state police, we don’t sweep those roads in our towns we don’t plow highways, we don’t salt, we don’t pick up debris, so why we send the police out on state highways. Call the state police. Let them do that. Wake up tax prayers.
I believe Waldwick no longer does it. For obvious reasons.