Joseph Paladino, 17, killed, Rosario Paladino, 75, seriously injured, airlifted to hospital, James Hofmann, 59, injured taken to hospital, after a car and pickup collide on a very wet State Route 206 near Andover Township.

Heavy rain may be to blame for an accident Tuesday in which a 17-year-old Hopatcong boy was killed, Andover Township police said. Joseph Paladino died when a car driven by his grandfather, Rosario Paladino, 75, also of Hopatcong, crossed over the center line on Route 206 and collided with a pickup truck driven by James Hofmann, 59, of Stillwater. “There was heavy rain at the time of the accident. That is definitely being considered” as a factor that may have led to the accident, police Lt. Eric Danielson said. Joseph Paladino was transported to Newton Medical Center, where he later died, police said. Rosario Paladino was taken by medevac to Morristown Medical Center and was listed in fair condition today, a hospital spokesman said. Hofmann was taken to Newton Medical Center for treatment. He was not seriously injured, police said. The accident occurred at 5:37 p.m. near the D&E Service Center. Paladino, driving a 2004 silver Hyundai Sonata, was heading north. Hofmann, driving a 2006 white Ford F-350, was heading south, police said. The accident remains under investigation by Andover Township police, the Sussex County Sheriff Department’s Crash Team and the county prosecutor’s office.