Man Killed After Walking Into Route 206 Traffic, Police Say

A Budd Lake man was killed after being struck by a car on Rt. 206 Saturday morning in Chester Township, according to police. 

Joseph Song, 22, was standing on the northbound shoulder beside his vehicle near mile marker 85, Lt. Tom Williver said, when he stepped out into traffic. Upon doing so, he was hit by a Jeep driven by Joseph Labetti, 54, of Staten Island, N.Y.

Song was airlifted to Morristown Medical Center for treatment to his injuries, Williver said. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

No charges have been lodged against Labetti, and it is still unknown why Song stepped out into traffic, Williver said. The incident occurred just before 9:30 a.m.

Rt. 206 was closed in the area for an hour and fifteen minutes. The Morris County Sheriff’s CIS Unit and Chester First Aid Squad assisted at the scene.

The accident is still under investigation by the local police and Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit.

Police are asking anyone with information or who witnessed the accident to contact Lt. Thomas Williver at 908-879-5514, ext. 835.

For questions about this post, email jason.koestenblatt@patch.com.