Two victims were taken to Westchester Medical Center and the third to Hackensack University Medical Center after the helicopters landed at the Sheraton Crossroads, Police Chief James Batelli told Daily Voice.
Two of them had to extricated followed the crash just after 2 p.m. at mile marker 65, the chief said.
All are from Newburgh, N.Y., he said.
BLS, ALS and firefighters joined police at the scene.
The northbound highway was closed for hours so authorities could clear the wreck and investigate.
"The issue of parked tractor trailers on shoulders was brought to the attention of NJDOT," Batelli told Daily Voice.
Another crash occurred hours later involved two vehicles and a downed utility pole by the Campgaw split.
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