Community Corner

Some Fort Lee Mail May Have Been Lost in Truck Fire

State agency working to help residents whose mail never made it to government offices.

The state Department of Treasury is working to assist residents in many Morris County towns whose mail, sent to government offices between Sept. 7 and Sept. 10, burned in a truck fire last month.

Affected zip codes begin with 070 to 076, 078, 079, 088 and 089. 

All of the mail that was on the truck on Sept. 11 was destroyed in the accident near Hightstown on the New Jersey Turnpike when the truck carrying it burst into flames, according to a press release sent out by Gov. Chris Christie's office.

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The U.S. Postal Service now says the blaze and resulting firefighting efforts destroyed nearly every piece of mail on board. The truck was carrying one day’s worth of mail to a variety of locations in Central New Jersey, including letters and packages bound for some state government offices in Trenton and the surrounding area," the press release said.

The driver of the truck carrying the mail was killed, NorthJersey.com reported.

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The governor's office has ordered that all state agencies assist residents who may have been affected.

"We're making arrangements to try to help out people whose mail was destroyed in this unfortunate fire," Bill Quinn, spokesperson for the state Department of Treasury said. "If people had payments that were due, we're extending the deadline on that until at least Oct. 15."

To find a state agency you might have mailed, visit the state website and click on the appropriate agency's link or call the governor's Constituent Relations Office at 609-777-2500.


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