Severe storms that tore through central New Jersey Thursday evening left behind a trail of destruction, killing at least three people and forcing multiple cities to declare a state of emergency.
According to officials, two men, aged 25 and 79, were driving through Plainfield between 6 and 7 p.m. when a massive tree fell onto their vehicle, bringing down numerous power lines with it and crushing the car.
In a separate incident in North Plainfield, a woman who had pulled over on Greenbrook Road to wait out the storm was killed when another large tree toppled onto her car, officials confirmed.
“I saw the tree on the car and realized, the whole sidewalk had come up,” Michelle Smith, a witness, told ABC 7. “It was very chaotic — a lot of people were trying to look inside the car. The car lights were still on, but with the size of that tree and the storm conditions, it was clear the person likely didn’t survive.”
Authorities have not yet released the victims’ identities.
Fierce Winds Leave Widespread Damage
The National Weather Service received more than two dozen storm reports from central New Jersey as wind gusts between 60 and 80 mph battered the region.
By Friday morning, nearly 20,000 households remained without power, with Middlesex County suffering the brunt of the outages, according to PowerOutage.us.
Videos posted on social media show the extent of the damage: downed trees crushing homes and vehicles, debris strewn across roadways, and power lines tangled on streets. The North Plainfield Fire Department reported several homes sustained significant structural damage.
July 4th Celebrations were Canceled
Both Plainfield and North Plainfield remain under a state of emergency. The destruction prompted officials in North Plainfield to cancel all Fourth of July celebrations, including the annual parade, concert, and fireworks.
“The devastating storm that struck our city has left deep scars, widespread damage, and thousands still without power,” city officials said in a statement. “In light of this tragedy, we cannot, in good conscience, proceed with our Fourth of July parade, concert, or fireworks. This is not a time for celebration — it is a time to regroup and focus all our energy on recovery.”
Emergency crews continue cleanup efforts, and residents are urged to avoid downed power lines and report hazardous conditions to local authorities.
