3 From Essex County Killed On Route 22 After Beach Party: Murphy

NEWARK, NJ — Three Essex County residents died in a crash on Route 22 Tuesday night after reportedly attending a beach party, Gov. Phil Murphy said.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Murphy said three people were killed in a traffic accident on Route 22. The governor said they apparently attended a party in Point Pleasant Beach beforehand.

Police responded to a large gathering on the beach on Tuesday, which officials alleged was a "clear violation" of social distancing requirements amid the coronavirus outbreak.

On Wednesday evening, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office released additional details about the crash:

"At approximately 11:11 p.m., a Cadillac CTS was involved in a single car crash on Route 22 that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old female, Taylor Hill, and 18-year-old male, Kamal Johnson, both of Newark. Both were passengers in the vehicle and both were pronounced dead at the scene. A third male victim, Nashawn Brooks, 20, of Irvington was transported to University Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 11:57 a.m. on [Wednesday]. Two females in the car, including the 19-year-old driver, sustained life threatening injuries. They are hospitalized in critical condition."

A preliminary investigation indicates that speed does not appear to be a factor in the crash, prosecutors said.

Keep updated with local public safety alerts at the Patch Newark Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com