An SUV and a passenger van collided nearly head-on in Lakewood, N.J. Tuesday, injuring more than a dozen people.
Fourteen people in total were hurt; six were listed in critical condition with head injuries and respiratory distress after the crash at New Hampshire Avenue and Pine Street at about 7 p.m.
Local police said it was among one of the worst accidents they've seen.
"We have a lot of major highways, we have serious accidents. But this one's very serious," said Lakewood police officer Erik Menck.
Sources familiar with the incident said a preliminary investigation shows the white van was attempting to make a left turn when the SUV slammed into it. It's not clear if either driver saw the other.
Alcohol did not play a role in the crash, authorities said.
The passengers were employees of a contractor for Enterprise car rental company, said Ford. They had just dropped off some Enterprise cars at the Lakewood dealership and were being driven back to Newark.
Local
The driver and the passenger inside the SUV were treated and released from a local hospital, according to authorities. The investigation is ongoing.
