By: Richard L. Smith
A devastating single-vehicle crash on the New Jersey Turnpike in Gloucester County early Sunday claimed the lives of two teenagers from Maryland, according to the New Jersey State Police.
Officials said 19-year-old Juan Carlos Munguia-Palma and a 14-year-old boy, both residents of Hyattsville, Maryland, were killed when the SUV they were riding in veered off the highway in Harrison Township and struck a tree.
The crash occurred around 1:05 a.m., approximately three-quarters of a mile north of Exit 2, near milepost 13.6.
According to authorities, the vehicle was traveling northbound when the driver, a 19-year-old man also from Hyattsville, lost control.
The SUV slid down an embankment on the right side of the road and slammed into a tree with such force that four of the six occupants were ejected from the vehicle.
The driver and two other passengers sustained serious injuries but are currently listed in stable condition.
The sixth passenger, another 19-year-old male, suffered moderate injuries.
As of Wednesday, no charges have been filed, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The New Jersey State Police continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision.