My friend's sister was killed in a car accident Tuesday night. There was an article in yesterday's Newark Star-Ledger:
Rt. 35 collision kills 2, injures 5
One victim loses a foot and hand in 3-vehicle Woodbridge crash
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
BY SULEMAN DIN AND GEORGE BERKINStar-Ledger Staff
Two people were killed and five others injured last night in a three-vehicle collision in Woodbridge, authorities said.
The accident occurred shortly before 7 p.m. on Route 35 near Convery Boulevard near the Perth Amboy border, Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Nicholas Sewitch said.
A black Chrysler was traveling north on Route 35, known as Amboy Avenue, by Strawberry's Pub when it crossed into the southbound lane, sideswiped a Hyundai and crashed nearly head-on into a Jeep Wrangler, Sewitch said.
The driver and a passenger in the Chrysler were pronounced dead at the scene, the prosecutor said. Authorities did not release the names or ages of anyone in last night's accident.
Two occupants of the Jeep were critically injured, Woodbridge police Lt. Jim Hill said. The critically injured were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and University Hospital in Newark.
One of those critically injured people suffered an amputated hand and foot, the lieutenant added.
Three people in the Hyundai were taken to area hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, the prosecutor said.
"We mourn for the families of those who were killed and injured," said state Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), who is serving as interim Woodbridge mayor.
The sound from the crash was heard inside Strawberry's, which is located across the street from the accident scene.
"You didn't even hear the tires screeching, all you heard was a bang, and we looked out the window and we saw an SUV flipping," said a bartender at the pub who declined to give her name.
"You just heard the noise and saw the smoke," she added.
Several patrons ran outside to help, and rescue workers ran inside the tavern to get ice to treat the victim who lost a hand and foot, she added.
John Anagnostis of Perth Amboy was driving to Strawberry's Pub for dinner when he came upon the accident.
He said an acquaintance who was in the parking lot when the collision occurred told him she went over to the Chrysler and reached through a window to help, only to discover the occupant had died.
Road conditions were dry last night. Amboy Avenue was closed at the crash scene but was expected to reopen by this morning, police said. No summonses have been issued pending the investigation. Staff writer Tom Haydon contributed to this report.