Two-Car Crash Injures Drivers, Closes Route 517 for Hours

A two-car crash Tuesday morning on Route 517 hospitalized both drivers and closed the road after one of the careening vehicles hit a nearby natural gas pipe and caused a leak.

Hackettstown Police said Christine Cobaugh, 46, of Bangor, Pa., was traveling on Route 517 in the vicinity of Old Allamuchy Road at about 8:20 a.m.  Cobaugh attempted to make a left turn into the Mars Chocolate North America’s parking lot when her car was struck by Patrick Campbell, 40, of Hackettstown, who was traveling north on Route 517.

When police arrived at the accident scene, they found Campbell trapped in his vehicle. Cobaugh's car had crossed over the front lawn of the BP Gas station and struck a natural gas pipe, causing a minor gas leak, police said.

Both Cobaugh and Campbell complained of chest pain and other injuries. Cobaugh was flown to Morristown Memorial Medical Center, while Campbell was driven to the same hospital, according to police.

Traffic was closed on the roadway for approximately an hour, while Elizabethtown Gas Co. workers at the scene to repair the gas leak.

Cobaugh was given a summons for careless driving, police said.