Police probe death of Montville man walking on 287

MONTVILLE – Authorities are investigating a possible suicide after a township man walked onto Route 287 on Sunday night and was hit by a truck and killed, the State Police said Tuesday.

The 23-year-old man stepped in front of a Freightliner tractor-trailer truck in the right southbound lane of Route 287. State troopers responded to the call, which came in at 9:11 p.m.

The man, whose name was withheld, was declared dead at the scene remotely via a doctor from St. Clare’s Hospital in Denville. His next of kin were notified, police reported.

The incident is being investigated as a possible suicide, according to Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Williams. Investigators are looking into a statement by the truck driver, Stephen Von Debur, that a second motor vehicle may have hit the body after it was struck by the truck but left the scene before police arrived, Williams said.

No other vehicle was found near the scene, Williams said. There was no information about how the victim got to the location of the accident, which occurred near mile marker 47.3.

Weather was clear at the time of the accident and was not a factor, Williams said. He also said there was no information about whether drugs or alcohol was involved, particularly with respect to the possible second vehicle involved.

The New Jersey State Police Commercial Vehicle Inspection and Fatal Accident units responded. The truck was impounded and brought to the State Police Netcong Station. No charges have been filed against Von Debur, who was pulling a 53-foot refrigerator trailer with his truck, registered in Oklahoma.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.