Mountainside – Two Dead in Violent Single-Car Crash

Mountainside authorities are looking into what caused the fiery single-vehicle crash on Route 22 that killed two people early Sunday morning, January 12.

According to reports from the initial investigation done by Mountainside police, the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing the car to veer off the roadway and crash into a tree at approximately 4:05 a.m. The vehicle then caught fire right after the collision, the report added.

A female occupant was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The male driver was trapped inside the wrecked vehicle when it caught fire, and succumbed to the flames.

Both victims remain unidentified and police still looking into details surrounding the crash.

We would like to send our sincerest condolences to the bereaved families. We hope they are able to find the strength to move forward from this tragic accident.

Vehicular Accidents

Vehicular crashes are one of the most common causes of injuries and fatalities in the state of New Jersey. In a report published by the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accidents Investigation Unit, there were 591 recorded fatal crashes that occurred in 2017, which caused 624 fatalities.

In 158 of the 591 crashes, Driving While Intoxicated (alcohol and/or drugs) was listed as the major contributing factor. There were 174 people killed as a result of these 158 crashes. Speeding was another major contributing factor to these crashes being listed as a factor in 61 of the crashes. Driving while distracted seems to be the biggest factor as it was listed as a cause for 196 crashes.

We urge drivers to observe and follow the laws while driving, and to remain focused while driving so that they can react accordingly to situations that may suddenly pop up on the roadway. Drivers should be more careful when driving while visibility is low, and they should also check their car before going on the roadway. Being more diligent and prepared can help lessen accidents on the roads of New Jersey.