3 dead, more than a dozen hurt in I-287 crash, police say

Three people died and more than a dozen others were hospitalized after a crash on Route 287 north involving at least three vehicles — including a truck hauling cattle and a passenger van — late Saturday, authorities said.

Authorities were at the scene of a crash on I-287 in Somerset County Nov. 28, 2015 (511nj.org) 

BERNARDS -- Three people died and more than a dozen others were hospitalized after a crash on Route 287 north involving at least three vehicles -- including a truck hauling cattle and a passenger van -- late Saturday, authorities said.

The highway remained closed early Sunday, with traffic detoured at Exit 26 in Bernards Township, according to a State Police statement. The crash was reported around 10:30 p.m., near milepost 29.1.

State Police said the wreck involved at least three vehicles, which included the pick-up truck with a trailer carrying cows, a car and a multi-passenger van.

Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, State Police said. A third person died at Morristown Medical Center. Four additional people were taken to the Morristown hospital, two of which were in serious, but stable condition, police said.

Nine people were taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Somerset with non life-threatening injuries, according to police. Another two also had non life-threatening injuries and were being treated at Overlook Hospital in Summit.

One person refused medical treatment, the statement said. 

An unspecified number of cows died, authorities added. Other livestock survived and were taken away.

State Police cautioned that the information was preliminary and investigators were continuing to work at the scene. Authorities planned to release additional details late Sunday morning.

Serious crash I-287 NB MP 29.1 Bernards Twp. All lanes closed. Traffic detoured off of exit 26. Multiple vehicles & TT, injured livestock.

-- NJSP - State Police (@NJSP) November 29, 2015

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.