Dog food truck crash makes for wild scene in New Jersey

A big rig veered off a New Jersey highway and into a building early Monday, trapping the driver and potentially dooming the structure to demolition, officials said.

It was a dramatic scene off the highway as the sun came up. Hours earlier, around 2:30 a.m., officials say the tractor-trailer, which was carrying dog food, smashed into LimoRide, right off Route 3 in Clifton.

It’s not clear what went wrong.

The driver, who was trapped under a collapsed roof, had to be extricated and taken to a local hospital. He was able to speak with emergency personnel as he left the scene and is expected to be OK, though it did take about a half-hour to get him out.

One person inside the building had to be rescued from the second floor using a ladder.

No other injuries were reported — except to the building. Officials said all of the load-bearing beams were compromised by the accident. It appeared the building may have to be shut down.

The off-ramp in the area was closed. It wasn’t clear when it would open. That’s also the ramp where NJ Transit commuters line up to catch the bus into the city.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.