Longtime Coach, His Wife Killed As SUV Smashes Into NJ Living Room: Officials

MULLICA HILL, NJ — A longtime high school sports coach and his wife were identified as the two people who were killed after an SUV smashed into a Mullica Hill house Saturday night and caught fire.

Tom Hengel, 72, was driving north on Banff Drive when, for an unknown reason, his SUV quickly accelerated. The 2020 Hyundai Palisade then struck a curb, traveled across two front yards and crashed through a house, entering the living room, police said.

A fire quickly engulfed the vehicle and most of the home. Hengel and his wife — Lisa Hengel, 61 — succumbed to their injuries.

Everyone inside the home escaped unharmed.

Firefighters reached the scene within four minutes, finding the vehicle engulfed as flames extended to the first and second floors, according to Harrison Township Fire District #1.

The home was heavily damaged, and the family has been temporarily relocated. Officials believe a medical emergency or an issue with the gas pedal may have caused the crash, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Harrison Township police continue to investigate it with the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office's assistance.

Tom Hengel was a 1972 graduate of Clearview Regional High School in the Mullica Hill section of Harrison Township.

He later coached the Clearview Pioneers in cross country, track and basketball, making the Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

At that time, his boys cross country teams secured 115 wins and several Gloucester County and Tri-County Conference championships. His girls cross country teams collected 59 wins, with Tom becoming South Jersey Coach of the Year in 2014.

Under his leadership, the girls winter track team won three state championship, while several boys and girls track athletes produced a "long list" of individual state titles as of 2018, according to the Hall of Fame.

Harrison Township Mayor Adam Wingate offered his condolences.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hengel family and all involved in last night’s tragic incident," Wingate said. "We mourn together as a community and keep everyone impacted close in our hearts. Once a Pioneer, always a Pioneer."