By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey State Police officials are investigating a deadly overnight crash that claimed the life of one person and left several others injured on Interstate 78 in Union County.
Troopers were called to the westbound lanes of I-78 near milepost 53.4 in Hillside Township at approximately 1:46 a.m. following reports of a serious multi-vehicle collision.
According to the preliminary report sent by NJ State Police, the crash began when a Honda SUV driven by Mr. Brandon Babb, 29, of Newark, attempted a lane change and struck a Toyota SUV driven by Ms. Vanessa Jonas, 37, also of Newark.
Official said the impact caused the Honda to spin across the roadway, facing the wrong direction in traffic.
A Ford passenger vehicle, operated by Mr. Dayle Danchak, 24, of Towaco, collided with the disabled Honda. The Ford, carrying Genna Spina, 21, of Denville, then overturned into the express lanes, where it was struck by a Chevrolet SUV driven by Mr. Derek Feltenberger, 39, of Reading, PA.
Tragically, NJSP officials said Spina was ejected from the vehicle during the collision and pronounced dead at the scene.
Danchak suffered serious injuries, while Jonas and Feltenberger sustained moderate injuries. Babb was not injured according to the NJ State Police
Two passengers in the Chevrolet — an 11-year-old girl and Sondra Williams, 59, of Reading, PA — sustained minor injuries in the crash.
Authorities said the incident remains under active investigation, and no charges have been filed at this time.