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Update on Mahwah Fatal Truck Crash
Mahwah Township, N.J. - On Tuesday, June 24, 2014, at 12:38 p.m., troopers from Totowa Station
responded to a report of a multiple motor vehicle crash on Interstate 287 northbound at milepost 66.4.
Harry Bulatowicz, 58, of Ellenville, N.Y., was the driver of a 1999 disabled cement truck operated by
Concrete on Demand of Oakland, N.J., which was parked on the right shoulder of the roadway. Two additional
employees, Santiago F. Mercado, 42, and Santiago M. Mercado, 22, (father and son) both of Nyack, N.Y., arrived
on scene in a 1990 Isuzu pickup truck to assist in repairing the cement truck. The pickup truck was parked in
front of the cement truck. The Mercados and Bulatowicz were standing along the left side of the cement truck
as they attempted to fix the vehicle.
Rosemary DiBattista, 58, of Fanwood, N.J., approached the scene in her 2000 Toyota Avalon, saw the men,
slowed, and moved to the left side of the right lane. A 2012 Freightliner tractor-trailer (JNT Transportation,
Friendsville P.A.) was also traveling northbound on I-287. The driver, Adelbert McKee, 58, of Ellenville, N.Y,
struck the right rear of the Toyota, the left side of the cement truck, and the three pedestrians. The
Frieghtliner maintained contact with the Toyota and stopped on the right shoulder where both vehicles caught
on fire. Mrs. DiBattista, her passenger (husband), Anthony DiBattista, 59, and McKee were able to escape
before both vehicles became engulfed.
Santiago M. Mercado, Santiago F. Mercado, and Harry Bulatowicz were pronounced deceased at the scene. The
DiBattistas and McKee sustained minor injuries as a result of this crash. Interstate northbound remained
closed until approximately 10:30 pm. No charges have been filed at this time. This accident remains
under investigation.
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