Lemons spilled all over Route 17 in crash that closed highway for much of day

MAHWAH — The Wednesday commute got off to a sour note on Route 17 as a tractor-trailer crash caused lemons to spill all over the highway.

A citrusy smell remained in the air after the tractor-trailer crashed on the northbound side, leaving all lanes closed for much of the day. Dozens, if not hundreds, of lemons rolled along the roadway, and the damaged trailer could be seen along the divider.

The truck also hit an Audi on the southbound side of the highway.

At about 10 a.m., the trailer portion of the vehicle rolled off and landed in the southbound lanes, the Mahwah Police Department said. The highway finally reopened in full by about 6:45 p.m.

Officers later contacted the driver, who said he was traveling north when he felt the trailer load shift. He said his attempt to correct the shift caused the trailer to dislodge and go into the southbound lanes.

The drivers of the truck and the Audi were taken to local hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said.

Mahwah EMS posted a warning about the crash on Route 17 north and the overturned trailer near Mountainside Avenue. Mahwah police and fire also responded.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation was at the site to inspect damage to an overhead sign and assist with getting traffic back to normal.