Police say one woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while a second person, a man, died at Hackensack University Medical Center. A third person, believed to be the husband of the dead woman, was in critical condition at the hospital.
Three others were treated at the hospital and another another 23 treated and released.
The crash cleanup closed eastbound Route 3 for much of the morning commute.
The sudden freeze on area roads last night is believed to have caused the crash.
Also, at around the same time, several accidents involving at least 15 cars was reported on Interstate 80 in Saddle Brook. No one was seriously injured.
And, another crash on Interstate 80, farther east in Hackensack, involved a pregnant woman. She was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center.
Meanwhile, two men were thrown from their car in a crash on the ramp from Routes 1 & 9 to westbound Interstate 78 in Newark. The victims were taken to University Hospital in Newark in unknown condition.
The crash caused delays onto Routes 1 & 9.
Eight separate accidents closed the Edison Bridge, on Route 9 in Sayreville, for at least an hour. All involved sustained minor injuries, including a Sayreville Police Officer whose patrol car was hit. He was treated and released from the hospital.
A car reportedly crashed also, into a toll booth on the southbound Garden State Parkway at the Barnegat tolls in Barnegat just after 1:15 a.m. this morning, killing one person.
Lanes were also closed on the Garden State Parkway through Middlesex County and the NJ Turnpike in Union County.
Elizabeth police had a 20-car accident on Routes 1 & 9 and East Jersey Street, and a 10-car crash in the area of the Jersey Gardens Mall.
Clifton police temporarily closed eastbound Route 46 near Vernon Avenue when between 10 and 12 cars collided.
Other late-night crashes were reported on Route 9 north in Woodbridge, Route 18 north in Piscataway, and Route 18 in New Brunswick.