The driver of a cement truck who was involved in Wednesday morning's three-vehicle collision on Route 202 at Whitenack Road in Bernardsville died later that afternoon at Morristown Medical Center, as investigators continued what has become a fatal accident investigation, said Bernardsville Police Chief Kevin Valentine.

Bernardsville Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team continue to investigate the motor vehicle accident reported to local police at 10:04 a.m. on Wednesday, Valentine said. Route 202 and Whitenack Road to the Bernards Township border remained closed while police were the scene conducting an investigation.

The accident involved three vehicles, including a commercial cement truck and two passenger vehicles, Bernardsville police reported. Two women from Bedminster, whose names were not yet released, both were hospitalized, and one was later released, the police report said.

The driver of the cement truck was Vidal J. Torres-Merced, 36, of Paterson, who later died of his injuries, Valentine reported. Torres-Merced was removed from the truck by rescuers and subsequently flown to Morristown Medical Center by a N.J. State police helicopter for further treatment of his injuries, police reported. Police were later advised that Torres-Merced had passed away at some point after leaving the accident scene, Valentine later said in a release.

The truck involved was a cement truck, reportedly owned by Herbert J. Hinchman and Son Inc. of Wayne.

Each of the three vehicles were occupied by the drivers, and no other passengers are known to be involved at this time, police said. When police arrived on the scene shortly after receiving the call, officers found that two of the drivers were trapped in their heavily damaged vehicles and needed to be extricated by rescue workers called to assist.

The second person operating a passenger vehicle was identified as a 53-year-old woman from Bedminster, police said. The woman reported managed to exit from her vehicle under her own power and subsequently was treated for injuries at the scene before she was transported to Morristown Medical Center for further treatment. Police subsequently were advised that she had been released from the hospital, Valentine said.

A third driver involved in the collision was also operating a passenger vehicle and was trapped in her heavily damaged car when police arrived, the Bernardsville chief said.

The woman, 24, from Bedminster was extricated from that vehicle by rescuers from the Bernardsville Fire Co. and First Aid Squad, with mutual aid assistance from rescue units from neighboring communities, police said.

That driver was treated at the scene by paramedics and first aid squad personnel before being flown by State Police Helicopter to Morristown Medical Center for treatment of her injuries, Valentine said. Specific information regarding the extent of her injuries was not available as of late Wednesday, the chief said.

Route 202 and Meeker Road were reopened to traffic at 6 p.m., even while the investigation continues, Valentine said.

Police from Bernardsville, Far Hills and Bernards Township all assisted at the accident scene along with rescue units from the Bernardsville Fire Co. and First Aid Squad, members of the Far Hills-Bedminster Fire Department, the Basking Ridge Fire Co. and First Aid Squad, the Peapack-Gladstone Fire Department and First Aid Squad, and paramedics from Atlantic Health System, Valentine said.

Members of the New Jersey State Police Incident Management Team and the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Team also provided assistance at the location, with cooperation from members of the N.J. Dept. of Transportation Critical Incident Traffic Response Unit, Valentine said. 

Valentine said that on behalf of the Bernardsville police department, he extends "our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Mr. Torres-Merced and wishes a speedy recovery to others injured in this incident."

Anyone with any information about the accident is requested to call Detective Sgt. James Smith of the Bernardsville Police Department at 908-766-0037, or the Somerset County Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team at 908-231-7100, according to police.

Photos of the accident were posted on NJ.com.