N. Caldwell Family Seriously Hurt in Overnight Crash

A North Caldwell family of five—three with serious injuries—were hospitalized following an overnight crash at the intersection of East Greenbrook Road and Mountain Avenue, Police Chief Mark Deuer said.

According to Deuer, the family was driving home from a friend's house in two vehicles when both cars went off the road into the woods, each striking trees with one vehicle catching on fire Sunday morning at about 1:15 a.m.

Deuer said a 19-year-old male was driving his mother and brother in one vehicle while his father was driving his other brother in another car along East Greenbrook Road.

However, both vehicles failed to stop when the roadway ends at the intersection of Mountain Avenue, Deuer said. The vehicles crossed Mountain Avenue and each struck trees in the wooded area.

When officers Michael Cristofano and Charles Krueser arrived at the scene, the father and his two younger sons were out of the vehicles, but the 19-year-old driver and his mother were trapped inside one vehicle that was on fire, Deuer said.

While keeping the flames back with fire extinguishers, the officers were able to extricate both of the victims before the blaze spread, Deuer said.

According to Deuer, four of the victims were transported to Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson and one victim was taken to Morristown Memorial Hospital. Deuer said three of the victims suffered serious injuries.

Deuer said both vehicles appeared to be traveling more than the 40-mile-per-hour speed limit. Police are investigating if alcohol or "horse-play" were involved with the drivers possibly playing a type of "racing game" with each other, Deuer said.

"When East Greenbrook Road ends, both vehicles continued and both cars struck trees," Deuer said. "It appears both cars crashed at exactly the same time. It's still a little confusing. The scene was a mess."

The North Caldwell Fire Department, West Essex First Aid Squad and police from West Caldwell, Cedar Grove and Essex Fells were among those who responded to the scene, which wasn't cleared until about 8 a.m., Deuer said.

Deuer would not yet release the identities of those involved, but said they live in the vicinity of the accident.

The Caldwells Patch will update this story when more details are available.