Mount Ephraim: Off-Duty Police Officer Dies In Auto Crash

 

Photos By Bill Bates

SERIOUS CRASH - The heavily damaged 2002 Chevy Tahoe that was headed North on the Black Horse Pike when it crossed the double line and into oncoming traffic when it collided with the tractor trailer that is seen in the background.  The driver of the Tahoe had to be freed from the vehicle which took Mount Ephraim's Rescue crew approximately 45 minutes.

Victim Identified as Pennsauken Patrolman Thomas J. Soto, age 27

 Bill Bates

NEWS Correspondent

Acting Camden County Prosecutor Joshua M. Ottenberg, Mount Ephraim Police Chief Edward Dobleman and Pennsauken Police Chief John Coffey reported the death of an off-duty Pennsauken police officer in a pre-dawn car crash Saturday in Mount Ephraim.

Mount Ephraim and Haddon Heights Police were advised by Camden County Communications that there was a motor vehicle accident reported in front of the Pretzel Factory on the Black Horse Pike.  Police arrived and advised communications of a motor vehicle accident with heavy entrapment, an SUV verse tractor trailer.

 

FUEL CONTAINED - The 75 gallons that ruptured during the crash can be seen to the right as it was contained by the fire department and haz-mat unit.  Numerous debris can be seen scattered all over the roadway from the crash including the Tahoe's driver side front tire - seen at left. (click on photo to enlarge)

Mount Ephraim Fire and EMS along with Haddon Heights Fire and EMS and Virtua Paramedics were dispatched to the scene for a motor vehicle accident rescue assignment.  Units arrived and Haddon Heights EMS transported one male passenger, a relative of Soto's from New York, to Cooper University Hospital in Camden for his injuries.

The male driver who succumbed from his injuries was identified as off-duty Pennsauken Police Officer Thomas J. Soto, 27, of Pennsauken.  Pennsauken Police Chief John Coffey released that Thomas had been a member of the department since July of 2006. Prior to joining the force he had worked with the department as a civilian special officer for about two years.

Soto was heading north on the Black Horse Pike in a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe when his vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a Pathmark tractor trailer.  The truck driver, Lawrence J. Bochard, of Fords, NJ, was uninjured.

The cause of the collision is under investigation. Preliminary investigation suggests alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Companies remained on scene well into the morning as they contained a rupture from the side saddle fuel tank of the tractor trailer.  Approximately 75 gallons of fuel had leaked onto the roadway due to the crash.  Clean-up of the hazardous material and removal of the un-operable tractor and trailer took several hours.

Other agencies that assisted at the scene were the Mount Ephraim and Camden County Emergency Management, Camden County Prosecutor's Office, Camden County Fire Police, NJ State Police, and NJ Department of Transportation.

The Black Horse Pike was shut down completely and traffic was re-routed onto side streets around the area.  All four lanes of the pike were re-opened shortly before 1 PM.

Our sympathy is extended to the Soto Family and the Pennsauken Police Department that he so faithfully served. 

DAMAGED TRUCK - The tractor trailer that was hit by the SUV as it crossed the double line into oncoming traffic.  The tractor trailer was un-operable and had to be removed from the highway by special heavy duty towing equipment which took several hours.