Driver identified in fiery tanker crash on NJ Turnpike

KEARNY, N.J. (WABC) -- Eyewitness News has learned some new information about the driver who passed away in the fiery tanker crash along the NJ Turnpike Wednesday.

Dalip Kumar lived in Newark and had only been working there with a trucking company for a short time, but he left an indelible impression on his coworkers who are still mourning his loss.

Hardworking and reliable is how coworkers describe 40-year-old Kumar who had spent the past nine months driving trucks along the open road to help support his wife and two children back home in India.

Kumar was operating a fuel truck seen in some dash cam video Wednesday afternoon traveling northbound on the Jersey Turnpike, when he suddenly swerved to avoid several fallen mattresses on the roadway and flipped over a nearby guardrail.

Within mere seconds the tanker was fully engulfed in flames.

"I've been driving, I think it's going on 14 years now, seen quite a bit, I don't think I've ever seen quite as tragic right up that close though, right in front of me like that," said Kevin Hauer, crash witness.

Eyewitness News spoke by phone with Kevin Hauer by who witnessed the horrific crash firsthand. You can see him in the video running toward the truck to help, but the flames were just too intense.

"I walked along the concrete wall, I wanted to get a look, I wanted to make sure there wasn't somebody in there trying to get out and couldn't. And I got a good look at what was left in the cab and there was definitely nobody coming out of there," Hauer said.

The crash remains under investigation by state police. They say the driver of the white van carrying the fallen mattresses did remain on scene and so far no charges have been filed.

"My heart really goes out to the family. I don't really have details on that, but everybody's got family somewhere and it's just a sad story," Hauer said.

A manager of the trucking company JSK Transport Inc. released a statement saying, "All of us are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and employee, Dalip Kumar. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time. He was hard working, reliable and you could always count on him."