The 27-year-old victim was taken to the trauma unit at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson after his Nissan Sentra overturned in the five-vehicle, chain-reaction crash near Exit 153B around 4:50 a.m.
There was no immediate word on other injuries, although his appeared the most serious.
The vehicle may have been caused by a Cadillac Escalade that was believed stolen, responders said.
The northbound highway was closed down so the victims could be tended to, the wreckage could be cleared by Bergen Brookside Auto Body & Towing and New Jersey State Police could investigate.
ALL PHOTOS: CHRIS LEON (Bergen Brookside Auto Body and Towing, Inc.)
Click here to follow Daily Voice Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes and receive free news updates.