Watch CBS News

Police Investigating West Milford Crash That Left Teen Dead, 6 Others Injured

WEST MILFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A teenage girl was killed Wednesday night in horrific wrong-way in New Jersey and authorities said the driver had no business being behind the wheel.

The deadly crash occurred in West Milford.

A Ford Fusion being driven by a 16-year-old, unlicensed male with three friends inside, was going south in the northbound lanes of Route 23 when he slammed head-on into an oncoming Mercedes being driven by an 18-year-old woman with two of her teenage friends inside, CBS 2's Derricke Dennis reported.

Remnants of the crash could still on the road Thursday afternoon.

A 17-year-old girl in the wrong-way car was killed and all 6 other teen survivors were hospitalized with serious injuries.

Police said the 16-year-old wrong-way driver didn't even have a permit.

"He's not licensed at this point, and that is an issue," said West Milford Police Lt. John Matarese. "There's was varying degrees of injury, there was seven occupants with both vehicles altogether. The six that survived had varying degrees of injury."

It's unknown where or why the wrong-way driver entered the wrong lanes of Route 23.

Police are investigating whether inexperience played a role or if alcohol or some other distraction played a role. They're just not saying, citing the ongoing investigation.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.