Transformer Explosion on Route 10 Sends Woman to Hospital

An electrical transformer exploded Thursday morning on Route 10 causing a fire and wires to fall and strike a Summit woman’s car while she was driving on the roadway.

The explosion erupted as light rain fell shortly before 10 a.m. on the eastbound side of Route 10 in front of 290 W. Mt. Pleasant Ave., Livingston Police Capt. Gary Marshuetz said. Multiple wires caught on fire and fell, some landing on a 2005 Ford driven by a Summit woman.

The car, which remained parked on Route 10 after the wires fell on it, did not catch on fire, Marshuetz said.

Livingston police and fire departments and First Aid Squad responded to the scene, in addition to New Jersey Department of Transportation. 

The driver reported feeling an electrical current and was in stable condition when police arrived, Marshuetz said. She was transported to Morristown Memorial Hospital.

Crews from the power company Jersey Central Power & Light soon arrived to repair the transformer and wires. Some businesses in the area reported outages after the explosion.

All lanes of traffic are now open. 

All repairs are anticipated to be completed by rush hour.