Two people were killed and six others were left hurt after several cars crashed in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, on Friday evening, according to police.
According to police, the accident happened around 8:18 p.m. on the 8000 block of the Black Horse Pike in front of the Oh St. Joseph Hotel, in the West Atlantic City section of the township.
Police said A 2017 silver Nissan Sentra was driving westbound on the Black Horse Pike when it entered into the eastbound, oncoming lanes of travel and struck a 2018 Kia Forte in a head-on collision.
The force of the impact pushed the Kia Forte backward, where it was struck by a 2020 red Nissan Sentra, which was also eastbound on the Black Horse Pike, according to police. The 2020 red Nissan Sentra went off the roadway to the left, coming to rest on the westbound side of the roadway.
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According to police, the Kia Forte came to rest in the marsh area along the eastbound side of the roadway and the 2017 silver Nissan Sentra came to rest in the eastbound lanes of travel facing westbound.
Police said debris thrown from one of the vehicles also struck a fourth vehicle, a 2019 silver Toyota Yaris.
After the head-on collision, police said the 2017 silver Nissan Sentra started to catch fire. Multiple witnesses and other passing motorists stopped to help and get people out before the vehicle became completely engulfed in flames.
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"We are thankful for those individuals who quickly and selflessly acted," Egg Harbor Township Police Department said in a statement.
Police said as a result of the crash, the driver of the Kia Forte - identified as 21-year-old Escarlin Suriel of Atlantic City -died in the crash. A passenger of the 2017 silver Nissan Sentra - 22-year-old Gabriella Constrantino of Pleasantville - also died from her injuries.
Two juvenile passengers - one male and one female - in the 2017 silver Nissan Sentra were taken to separate hospitals, and both were listed in critical condition, police said. A male passenger in the same vehicle - identified as 25-year-old Kenneth Jones of Pleasantville - was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
A passenger in the Kia Forte - identified as 27-year-old Francesco Nin Ferreras of Atlantic City - was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, according to police. Two occupants of the 2020 red Nissan Sentra were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
Police said one other male was transported to the hospital. He assisted with helping the passengers of the 2017 silver Nissan Sentra. His condition is unknown at this time.
According to police, the driver of the fourth vehicle, the 2019 Toyota, was not injured in the crash.
SkyForce10 was over the scene where a portion of the Black Horse Pike was blocked off.
The burnt-out shell of one car was visible in the middle of a lane facing the wrong direction.
There were at least three fire trucks at the scene with several police cars with yellow tape around the area on both sides.
A red sedan could be seen with its front end crashed into a barrier off the shoulder of the road with its airbags deployed.
A third dark-colored car could be seen in a grassy area off of the Black Horse Pike.
This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
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