By: Tracie Carter
Authorities in Hamilton Township are investigating a serious early morning crash that left one teenager dead and another critically injured.
According to information released by Hamilton Police, the collision occurred around 4 a.m. on April 12 along U.S. Route 130 at the intersection with First Responders Way.
The crash involved a tractor trailer operated by the United States Postal Service and a Mazda CX-3.
Preliminary findings indicate the Mazda was traveling southbound in the right lane of Route 130 when it slowed within the intersection.
At the same time, the USPS tractor trailer was traveling southbound in the middle lane and proceeded through the intersection with a green light.
As the truck entered the intersection, the Mazda attempted to make a left turn across northbound lanes, crossing directly into the path of the tractor trailer.
The impact caused both vehicles to continue forward over the grass median before coming to rest in the northbound lanes.
The driver of the Mazda, identified as 19-year-old Mordechai Sokol of Lakewood, suffered critical injuries and was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
His passenger, 18-year-old Eliyahu Schepansky, also of Lakewood, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the USPS truck, 43-year-old Beatriz Reyes of Bronx, sustained injuries and was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton for treatment.
The crash remains under active investigation by the Hamilton Police Traffic Unit.