Bergen bomb squad called after mortar round falls from car in Route 17 crash in Upper Saddle River

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A mortar round that fell from a car in a four-vehicle crash on Route 17 in Upper Saddle River this morning — requiring response from the Bergen County Bomb Squad — turned out to be harmless, authorities said.

Photo Credit: *Kathy Ahmed (above), Rola Birak Salloum (below)*

Photo Credit: *Rola Birak Salloum, Kathy Ahmed (TOP*

Jerry DeMarco

01/15/2015 3:30 p.m.

The World War II-era shell was “an heirloom the driver said was given to him by his grandfather,” Detective Lt. Edward Kane told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.

It popped out and landed under a vehicle that rolled onto its roof in the 8:15 a.m. crash, which Kane said was caused by an erratic driver.

“We called the Bomb Squad to be on the safe side,” he said. “Luckily, it was non-explosive.”

The three other vehicles were also damaged, along with area utility poles and a trailer sign for the 200 Club of Bergen County.

Two people were taken to the hospital with injuries that the lieutenant said weren’t considered life-threatening.

Summonses were expected, he said.

PHOTO (TOP): Elana Ducran

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PHOTOS: Kathy Ahmed (above), Rola Birak Salloum (below)

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