Mom, Son, 8, Airlifted After Serious Sparta Avenue Crash

A mother and her 8-year-old son were each airlifted to the hospital after their vehicle struck two utility poles, flipped over and hit a tree on Sparta Avenue late Friday night, police said.

According to Sgt. John-Paul Beebe, Anna K. Phillips, 26, of Rutherford, lost control of her 2012 Ford Focus while traveling with her son on Sparta Avenue about a quarter-mile from the Andover Township line at about 10:30 p.m. Friday.

It was not immediately known what caused Phillips to lose control of the vehicle, Beebe said.

The vehicle swerved to the right and knocked down two utility poles, which fell across the entire roadway, Beebe said. The vehicle overturned, slammed into a tree and came to rest at a 45-degree angle with the nose of the car embedded in the ground, Beebe said.

The victims, who were both wearing seat belts, were entrapped and suspended upside down in their seats, according to Beebe.

Andover Township Police Officer George Loudis and Sparta Officer Daniel Elig cut the boy loose and carried him away from the crash, Beebe said. The Sparta Fire Department used the Jaws of Life to extricate the boy's mother.

The victims were transported by the Sparta First Aid Squad to Mohawk Avenue where they were flown in separate helicopters to Morristown Medical Center. Their conditions were not immediately known Saturday morning.

Elig is leading the accident investigation and is assisted by Sparta Police Certified Accident Reconstructionists Lt. Neil Spidaletto, Detective Jeffrey McCarrick and Officer Richard Smith.

Sparta Avenue was expected to remain closed until late Saturday morning.