ESSEX — A third-generation volunteer firefighter was killed in a crash involving a street sweeper Monday morning on Route 154, police said.
According to police, an Essex Street Sweeper was traveling south on Route 154 at 7:40 a.m. when it was struck head-on by a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta that veered over the center yellow line as it was traveling northbound.
The driver of the car, Anthony Camire Jr., 28, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The Deep River resident had volunteered as a firefighter in both Deep River and Chester until last year. He worked as a contractor.
“He just enjoyed it,” Chester Fire Chief James Grzybowski said. “There was a history of it and the fire departments, it was in his blood.”
The street sweeper driver was not injured, and Sgt. Robert Derry from State Police Troop F said no foul play was involved, though the accident investigation team is still investigating.
Route 154 was closed for hours between Route 9 exit 4 and Old Deep River Road due to the accident, State Police Troop F says. The road has since reopened.
