Bridgewater Mail May Be Lost in Truck Fire

The state Department of Treasury is working to assist residents in many Somerset County towns whose mail, sent to government offices between Sept. 7 and Sept. 10, burned in a truck fire last month, according to a statement from the state.

Affected zip codes begin with 070 to 076, 078, 079, 088 and 089. 

All of the mail that was on the truck on Sept. 11 was destroyed in the accident near Hightstown on the New Jersey Turnpike when the driver collided with another truck. According to the Department of Treasury, the accident resulted in the death of the driver, the burning of a box truck and the destruction of most of the U.S. mail it was carrying.

The Treasury department said the blaze from the accident and resulting firefighting efforts destroyed almost all of the mail on board. The truck itself, a release from the department said, was carrying one day's worth of mail throughout Central New Jersey, including some letters and packages that were heading for state government offices in Trenton.

Although Bridgewater's zip code begins with 088, Bridgewater Post Office Supervisor John Mutchler said the township has not received any complaints from residents about mail that did not reach its destination.

But according to the release from the state, Gov. Chris Christie has ordered all state commissioners and agency heads to provide aid and flexibility where needed in terms of rules and regulation for those who had letters on that truck.

Agencies will post information on their websites about how to get assistance in this circumstance.

"We're making arrangements to try to help out people whose mail was destroyed in this unfortunate fire," said Bill Quinn, spokesman for the state Department of Treasury. "If people had payments that were due, we're extending the deadline on that until at least Oct. 15."