Motorcyclist lands in minivan after Rockaway Twp. crash

A motorcyclist was listed in good condition Thursday after surviving a weekend crash that resulted in him being ejected into the minivan he rear-ended on Route 15 in Rockaway Township, according to a police report.

Officers from the Rockaway Township Police Department responded on Saturday to the area of northbound Route 15 — near Richard Mine Road and the entrance to Picatinny Arsenal — on the report of a serious motor-vehicle accident involving a motorcycle that ran into the back of a minivan.

Upon impact, police said, the operator of the motorcycle, Justin Attanasio, 27, of Branchville was ejected into the minivan, resulting in injuries to the minivan driver and four passengers. The passengers included a 5-year-old and a 13-year-old.

All of the occupants in the minivan were transported to and released from an unidentified hospital within 24 hours.

Attanasio was airlifted to Morristown Medical Center for treatment after being extracted from the minivan. He was listed in good condition Thursday, according to a hospital spokesperson.

The accident is being jointly investigated by Rockaway Township police and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office with the assistance of the Morris County Sheriff’s Department. Anyone with information regarding the accident is asked to call Officer Michael Hatzimihalis at 973-625-4000.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.