SOMERSET COUNTY, N.J. — Authorities are continuing to investigate a tragic two-vehicle crash that claimed the life of 51-year-old Michele Rojek on Easton Avenue early Sunday morning. The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed her identity on Tuesday, October 21, following the fatal collision that occurred near Cedar Grove Lane in Franklin Township.
According to preliminary findings, Rojek was driving her 2019 white Honda Civic southbound around 7:40 a.m. when her vehicle crossed the center line into the northbound lanes and collided with a 2023 gray Toyota Tundra. The pickup truck’s driver, a 37-year-old resident of Piscataway, escaped without injury. Witnesses reported a heavy emergency response soon after the crash, as Franklin Township police officers and EMS crews arrived on scene. Rojek was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
The Franklin Township Police Traffic Safety Bureau, assisted by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team (C.A.R.T.), is leading the investigation. Officials are reviewing the crash dynamics, including roadway conditions, vehicle positioning, and potential mechanical issues. At this stage, no determination has been made regarding the exact cause of the collision. Investigators are examining whether factors such as speed, distraction, or medical distress may have played a role.
Authorities have urged anyone with information or dashcam footage from the area to come forward. Tips can be shared by contacting the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at (908) 231-7100, the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533, or through the STOPit app and Somerset County Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). Officials emphasized that anonymous reports will remain confidential and that every piece of information could help reconstruct the moments leading up to the crash.
Local residents who witnessed the aftermath said the area was quickly filled with flashing lights and emergency crews. Many expressed sorrow over the tragedy, describing Easton Avenue as a busy yet sometimes unpredictable roadway. The community has since extended condolences to Rojek’s family, remembering her as a kind and compassionate individual whose life was cut short unexpectedly.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement is reminding drivers to remain vigilant, especially during early morning hours when road conditions can change quickly. The crash serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of caution behind the wheel and the fragility of life on the road.