Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Fatal Crash Kills 2, Injures Man, Boy, 11

Two women dead after vehicle left roadway, crashed into trees along I-78 in Bernards, police say.

Two women were killed when the vehicle they were in ran off the roadway and struck trees on Interstate 78 in Bernards Township early Thursday morning, State Police said.

Tonya Gordon, 44, of Somerville, and Natasha Melendez, 20, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to State Police Sgt. Adam Grossman. State Police did not immediately know where Melendez resided.

According to Grossman, Davante Gordon, 20, of Somerville, was driving westbound when he lost control of his Nissan Maxima, near mile marker 33.8, ran off the left side of the road and hit two trees at about 2:30 a.m.

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According to Grossman, the front-seat passenger, Melendez, was ejected from the car.

Gordon was airlifted to Morristown Medical Center with critical injuries, Grossman said. 

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The other passenger, an 11-year-old boy, of Somerville, suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Morristown Medical Center as well, Grossman said. 

The heavily damaged four-door sedan was seen being towed from the scene Thursday at about 8 a.m.

The accident is still under investigation. 

Patch will continue to update this story.


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