Man found dead in submerged car in Delaware Raritan Canal

FRANKLIN, NJ — A man died after his car crashed and was found underwater in the Delaware-Raritan Canal on Saturday, according to police.

At about 12:24 p.m. on Aug. 24, a kayaker called police to report seeing the submerged vehicle in the Delaware Raritan Canal near the intersection of Canal Road and Grouser Road, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.

Franklin Township Police observed damage to guardrails and several trees and were able to spot a motor vehicle in the water.

The Somerset County District Attorney's Office Dive Rescue Team entered the water and found one person in the submerged vehicle.

The sole occupant, whom authorities identified as a 31-year-old man from Skillman, was recovered from the vehicle by dive team members and pronounced dead at the scene, McDonald said.

The vehicle was removed from the canal by Mikes Towing and Recovery.

Investigators from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office's Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Team, along with traffic investigators from the Franklin Township Police Department, determined that the vehicle, a 2024 Honda Civic, was traveling westbound on Grouser Road toward Canal Road.

Grouser Road ends at Canal Road, so westbound vehicles must turn right or left. The driver entered the intersection without stopping and struck the guardrail, sending the vehicle flying, McDonald said.

The vehicle struck several traffic signs and a tree before ending up in the canal. The vehicle was found facing east and upright, McDonald said.

Medical investigators from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or through the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to submit anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded for free to your smartphone from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information may also be provided to the Somerset County Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stoppers tips are kept confidential.

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