The New Jersey Department of Transportation traffic website said police are investigating an accident with injuries on Route 18 northbound in the area of Exit 22.
UPDATE: Authorities say two people died and another was hospitalized after a commercial line-striping truck overturned.
COLTS NECK -- A serious crash on Route 18 closed down the highway in both directions for a couple hours Wednesday morning.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation's traffic website said there was an accident with injuries on Route 18 northbound in the area of exit 22.
As of 7:30 a.m., all lanes on the northbound side of the highway were closed in the area and traffic was being detoured off exit 19A in Colts Neck.
The lanes on the southbound side, however, had been reopened as of 7:30 a.m.
Cars could be seen lined up for miles on the northbound side of the highway, just south of the accident. Motorists exited their vehicles to talk to one another and try to catch a glimpse of what was going on.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.