(Fanwood, NJ) — At approximately 10:00 a.m. on November 4, 2025, Fanwood Police were dispatched to Forest Road Park for a reported motor vehicle collision. Upon arrival, officers found that there were multiple victims and that a utility pole had also been struck and knocked down.
Union County EMS, paramedics, and the Fanwood Fire Department responded to the scene to provide emergency medical assistance. Multiple patients were transported by ambulance to University Hospital in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, and Overlook Hospital in Summit for treatment. Tragically, one victim, Ralph Benedict, succumbed to his injuries at University Hospital. Our deepest sympathies and support go out to the Benedict family during this incredibly difficult time.
The incident remains under investigation by the Fanwood Police Department with assistance from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Union County Police Department.
For further inquiry, please contact the Fanwood Police Department at police@fanwoodnj.org.
