A fatal car crash left 5 people dead in Rutherford, New Jersey, with 3 people unidentified and 2 awaiting notification to their next of kin. Gaby Acevedo.
Five people — including a child —were killed when an SUV crashed into the rear of a construction vehicle on a major highway in northern New Jersey, authorities said.
The crash on westbound Route 3 in Rutherford occurred shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday, according to police, near the entrance ramp from Route 17 south. The truck was entering the highway when it was struck from behind, police said. It had just dropped materials off at the nearby construction site.
A man, three women and a young boy — all apparently riding in the Nissan Rogue — were killed in the accident, four of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. The 4-year-old boy was briefly resuscitated, but later died from his injuries at Hackensack University Medical Center.
The driver, identified as 38-year-old Michelle Toledo, and three of the passengers — 20-year-old Irvina Gee, 23-year-old Sheckylle Chain and 16-year-old Ayana Navas — were all from Paterson. The was identified as Noah Dejesus, whose home was in Allentown.
The accident forced authorities to shut down a stretch of the highway for several hours before it was reopened early Monday.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Bergen County's Prosecutor's office. Police said speed may have been a factor, but believe there was nothing criminal in nature involved.
