As federal agencies maintain reports of drone sightings pose no public risk, a report of a drone crashing into a field in Hillsborough may have caused some damage as it allegedly struck a high-power tension line.
The Hillsborough Police Department responded to the parking lot of 315 Route 206 of the Lowe’s Hope Improvement store for a report of a drone that crashed into a field at 8:34 p.m. Dec. 12, according to a release through the Hillsborough Police Department.
Police met with the reporting party who reported observing drones in the air and one striking the high-power tension lines. The reporting party stated the drone then crashed into a field.
Police, Hillsborough Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Somerset County OEM, Somerset County Hazmat, Hillsborough Township Fire Department Unit 38, Millstone Valley Fire Department, Robert Wood Johnson EMS and the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit searched the area from the air and on foot and were unable to locate any down drone. Hillsborough police units established a perimeter around the area until daylight, where the search resumed in more visible conditions.
On Dec. 13, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Millstone Valley Fire Department deployed drones over the area for an arial view of the area yielding negative results. Somerset County Hazmat also conducted a foot search of the area yielding negative results.
At 12:10 p.m. all units cleared after a complete search of the area was concluded, and no down drone was recovered. There is no known threat to the public to report. The public is reminded to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) to report any suspicious drones in the area.
The following agencies responded to the scene: Hillsborough Township Police Department, Hillsborough Fire Department Station 38, Millstone Valley Fire Department, Hillsborough Township OEM, Somerset County OEM, Somerset County Hazmat, New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit and Robert Wood Johnson EMS.