5 Hospitalized After Chester Driver Runs Red Light, Cops Say

Five motorists and passengers were hospitalized Friday night after a Chester man struck a vehicle, ran a red light and caused another crash on Rt. 206, Chester Borough police said.

At 7:20 p.m. police responded to the intersection of Rt. 206 and the Chester Springs Shopping Mall for a crash with entrapped passengers, Chief David Jara said.

It was learned that David Franson, 44, of Chester, had hit a Toyota minivan in the parking lot of the Chester Springs Shopping Mall, driven by Christina Norris, 38, of Flanders, Jara said.

Franson then continued on his way, driving a Lexus, Jara said, and proceeded through the stop light which was red. As he crossed onto Rt. 206, Franson was hit by Erwin De Los Santos, 42, of Flanders, who was traveling south through the intersection and had a green light, Jara said.

De Los Santos had three passengers while driving a Subaru: Tara Coston, 28, of Flanders; Nicole Ward, 27, of Lake Hopatcong; and Chad Duncalf, 25, of Lake Hopatcong. 

Franson was flown to Morristown Medical Center and the four members of the Subaru were taken by ambulance. Franson was discharged from the hospital Monday, a spokesperson for Atlantic Health said.

The Chester First Aid Squad, Peapack First Aid Squad, and the Mendham Township First Aid Squad all assisted at the scene. The Morris County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit and Morris County Prosecutor’s Office assisted in the investigation.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation and charges are pending at this time, Jara said.