Fatal Crash Claims Life of Lumberton Woman

A Lumberton woman was killed after she veered off Route 38 and crashed into two utility poles Wednesday afternoon.

Moorestown Police said Helen J. Patterson, 56, was driving east on 38 just past South Church Street around 2 p.m. when she left the road and sheared off a utility pole head-on. Her 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander traveled another 180 feet, rolled onto the driver’s side, and slammed roof-first into another utility pole, snapping it in half.

Patterson was pronounced dead at the scene. There was no one else in the vehicle and no other vehicles were involved, police said. The cause of the crash is unknown.

PSE&G responded to the scene to stabilize the utility pole so emergency personnel could enter the vehicle. Utility workers had to lift the pole off the SUV so rescue workers could get to it, according to police.

Both eastbound lanes of Route 38 were initially closed following the crash. One lane was reopened at 2:30 p.m., though there were still significant traffic delays, with motorists backed up for more than two miles.

Moorestown Fire Department and Moorestown Emergency Squad also responded to the scene, and Mount Laurel Police helped direct traffic.