Woman identified in fatal Wantage crash as longtime Saddle Brook resident

The victim of a fatal crash on County Road 565 in Wantage last week has been identified by authorities.

Janet Esser, 58, was killed when her Ford Escape crossed over the double yellow lines around 6:30 p.m. on May 11 and struck a Freightliner box truck head-on, said Sgt. Philip Curry, a New Jersey State Police spokesman. The crashed caused the Ford to catch fire.

The driver of the box truck had minor injuries.  

Esser's town of residence is "pending investigation," Curry said, but an obituary posted in The Record identifies her as a longtime Saddle Brook resident who recently moved to Florida. She leaves behind her partner and two daughters.

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A funeral service was held in Saddle Brook on Sunday and a funeral Mass on Monday.

The crash remains under investigation, Curry said.

Lori Comstock can be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.