It was less “life on the open road” and more “life on the chocolate river” Monday night. A peanut M&M truck crash turned part of Interstate 80 into a sticky scene that Willy Wonka himself might’ve envied.
Peanut M&M truck crash in New Jersey leaves I-80 coated in candy
Around 10:15 p.m., the fully loaded rig rear-ended a parked trailer near mile marker 2.4 on I-80 West in Warren County. The collision ripped open both trailers, sending bags and boxes of candy exploding across the asphalt. For RVers cruising the interstate, the detour signs meant no bedtime snack stop at the next rest area—unless you like your M&M’s pre-flattened.
Emergency crews shut down the westbound lanes while they scooped up chocolate and wrappers under the glow of work lights. Authorities briefly thought there was a fire, but it turned out the only thing burning was the patience of detoured drivers.
Miraculously, no one was hurt. Both drivers declined medical treatment. The only casualties were thousands of brightly colored shells.
“Thank you to NJSP for their assistance with traffic, and also NJ DOT Incident Management for their assistance with traffic and cleanup!!” Knowlton Township Fire & Rescue Company No. 1 said in a Facebook post.
Facebook wags have a field day
Facebook commenters, naturally, treated the crash like an open-mic night. “Cleanup would have been much faster if they just let drivers park and pick,” one person wrote. Another demanded to know, “Why was I not called to assist with the cleanup?” Others predicted dire consequences: “Halloween is canceled, no more candy….”
By the time the mess was finally cleared just after midnight, the road was once again safe for regular travel—though probably still smelled like a vending machine.
And when historians of the future ask about the great Peanut M&M shortage of 2025, well, RVers who spent the night parked in a detour line will be able to say, “We were there.”
Sources include Independent and Knowlton Township Fire and Rescue
RELATED
• Motorhome rolls, crashes. Amazingly, RVers survive
• Report reveals deadly consequences of impaired driving
• DUI: Some marijuana users’ attitudes toward safety may put you in danger
• Are more drivers ignoring traffic laws?
• New, updated driving laws going into effect in 2025
RVT1227b
Oh, the horror! I hope that was not the truck bound for Florida. I’m going to go panic buy tomorrow.
Thank you, Russ and Tina, for the news! Were recently on that interstate, but well west of there. Have a great day and safe travels!