5 Dead, 3 Critically Injured In NJ Weekend Crashes

NEW JERSEY — A teen girl and a young man are among five people who died in separate fatal car crashes on New Jersey roads over the weekend, officials said. Four serious crashes were reported over the weekend around the state, and three people, including a 23-year-old motorcyclist, are also listed in critical condition as of the latest information.

The first fatal crash took place in Ocean County. Officials said three people were killed, and two critically injured in a two-vehicle crash in Lakewood around 2:20 a.m. Saturday.

The initial investigation determined a 2009 Honda Accord was going east on Cedar Bridge Avenue when the driver did not stop for a red traffic signal and hit a 2008 Dodge truck in the intersection. Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

The force of the impact caused the Dodge to roll over and split in two, while the Accord went off the road and hit a metal traffic signal pole and broke in two as a result of hitting the pole, he said.

The driver and one passenger in the Honda were pronounced dead at the scene, while three other passengers were transported to the hospital; one succumbed to their injuries, per Billheimer.

Officials have not identified the victims of this crash; family members have shared that Jayla M. Ortiz, 24, and Ceasia Jefferson were killed in the crash.

Around 2:30 a.m. Saturday, a 17-year-old Hackettstown girl died in single-vehicle crash in Long Valley after hitting a utility pole, according to police.

Authorities didn't disclose her name, but a GoFundMe page identified Isabella Todaro as the victim of a fatal Saturday crash.

The GoFundMe supporting her family has raised more than $49,000 as of Monday morning. Isabella, a Hackettstown High School senior, had a bright future ahead of her, according to the fundraising page. The high school opened Sunday and will be open Monday to offer support services, said the district superintendent.

The third crash took place around 3:45 a.m. Sunday on Interstate 295 in Mercer County, claiming the life of a 22-year-old Morris Plains man, according to state police.

Cameron Boyle was northbound on I-295 when his Honda veered off the road to the right, hitting a tree and a concrete bridge support, authorities said. The crash rook place near milepost 63 in Hamilton Township, per state police.

Officials also said a 23-year-old motorcyclist sustained serious injuries in a Hamilton Township crash later Sunday morning, on Route 130 near Marketplace Boulevard Extension.

Police said that around 9:45 a.m. a 2013 Lexus SUV, driven by a 55-year-old woman from Columbus NJ, and a 2018 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle, driven by a 23-year-old man from Ewing, collided while traveling northbound.

After the crash, the driver of the motorcycle was ejected from the motorcycle and continued across the southbound lanes of Rt 130 before coming to a stop, police said. He suffered serious bodily injuries and was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center at Fuld for treatment.

These incidents are all still under investigation, and Patch will provide updates when they become available.

This article contains reporting from Patch local editors Karen Wall, Josh Bakan, Sarah Salvadore, and Vianella Burns.