A 16-year-old boy died in a head-on crash Wednesday evening in Jackson Township, New Jersey, according to police.
The incident occurred just before 6 p.m. when a Ford F-150 traveling east on East Veterans Highway crossed into the westbound lanes and collided with a Nissan Altima near West Lake Court. The impact caused the Altima to catch fire.
The victim was quickly transported by township EMS to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, where he was pronounced dead. An 18-year-old girl driving the Ford and her front-seat passenger suffered minor injuries and were also taken to the hospital.
Authorities confirmed that the deceased was a student at Jackson Township High School. Superintendent Nicole Pormilli expressed condolences, stating, “This is a terrible loss for our school community.”
The Jackson School District is offering counseling and support services for students and families affected by the tragedy. A letter to families includes resources for grief and crisis support.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s Vehicular Homicide Squad and Jackson Township police. Anyone with information is urged to contact Jackson Police Officer Tristan Bennett at 732-928-1111 or via email.
Additionally, an online fundraiser for the victim’s family has raised nearly $8,000.