Karl Cochran Obituary, Death – A Bridgewater man lost his life after being ejected from a vehicle that backed into a tree, according to police. Authorities identified the victim as 61-year-old Karl Cochran, who was a passenger in the car at the time of the crash. The incident occurred on the morning of February 19, when Bridgewater Township Police responded to a report of a vehicle collision on private property.
The driver, 90-year-old Arna Cochran of Bound Brook, was operating a 2015 Subaru Legacy when she reversed across a front yard and crashed into a tree. The impact ejected Karl Cochran from the vehicle, causing serious injuries. Emergency responders from the Martinsville Rescue Squad and RWJ Paramedics arrived to provide medical assistance, while the Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department set up a helicopter landing site.
Cochran was airlifted to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick by NJSP NorthSTAR, where he later died from his injuries. The accident led to the temporary closure of Chimney Rock Road between Washington Valley Road and Gillbridge Road until approximately 9:10 a.m.
The Bridgewater Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Bureau and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office are continuing to investigate the crash. Authorities urge anyone with relevant information to contact Officer Cole Taggert or the Bridgewater TIPS line.
Meanwhile, both the Martinsville Rescue Squad and Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department are seeking volunteers, encouraging those interested to visit their websites for more details.
