Route 80 closed for chopper landing in Rockaway Twp.

ROCKAWAY TWP. – Route 80 was shut down in both directions Sunday so a helicopter could land and transport the victim of a serious crash to the hospital.

The Rockaway Township Fire Department responded at about 3:41 p.m. Sunday to a single car motor vehicle accident on Route 80 westbound near mile marker 35.8, according to Rockaway Township Fire and EMS Director Joe Mason said.

Initial reports said the victim was unconscious and the vehicle was on fire, Mason said.

James Kimball, 50, of Hackettstown was driving a 2004 red Pontiac Grand Prix in the left lane of Route 80 west when he apparently lost control of the car for unknown reasons, said State Police Sgt. First Class Greg Williams said.

Kimball drove off the roadway to the right, striking the Exit 35 sign, going into the grass, up an embankment, and hitting two trees before the Grand Prix came to a rest, Williams said.

The exit leads to the Mount Hope Avenue entrance to the Rockaway Townsquare Mall, and State Police requested a landing zone for a medevac helicopter be set up at the mall, which White Meadow Lake Co. 5 responded to, Mason said.

The landing zone was then diverted from the mall to the westbound side of the Route 80 near the crash site due to the severity of the victim's injuries, Mason said.

Both westbound and eastbound traffic was shut down during the landing of the Atlantic Medical helicopter, Mason said.

It took about 30 minutes to extricate Kimball from the vehicle and move him into the helicopter, and he was taken to Morristown Medical Center for further treatment, Mason said.

Kimball arrived at the hospital in critical condition, and his immediate family was notified, Williams said.

Nobody else was in the Grand Prix, and there were no other injuries, Williams said.

The crash remains under investigation, but no charges had been filed as of noon Monday, Williams said.

The scene was cleared and all lanes of Route 80 were reopened by 6:20 p.m. Sunday, Williams said.

Rockaway Township Fire Co. 4, Birchwood, and Company 2, Mount Hope, also responded to the scene along with township EMS and paramedics form Saint Clare's Hospital, Mason said. Rockaway Township Deputy Chief Jim Miller was in charge of the scene, he added.

Kimball remained in critical condition at noon Monday, Atlantic Health spokesperson Robert Seman said.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@dailyrecord.com