3 Dead, 2 Injured In Crash On Route 22 In Union, N.J.
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – Three people are dead and two others are injured in a horrific crash that happened early Saturday on Route 22 in New Jersey.
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The driver, 22-year-old Luis Dossantos of East Newark, was killed. Also killed in the crash were two Kearny residents - 21-year-old Robinson Pinheiro, a backseat passenger who was ejected from the car, and 23-year-old Danilo Xavier, who was in the front passenger seat.
The remaining two passengers suffered serious injuries, but authorities did not believe they were life-threatening.
Police in Union said they spotted the 1994 Honda Accord racing along in excess of 90 mph just before the crash happened at around 2 a.m. The car was traveling eastbound along Route 22 near Hillside Avenue. The car smashed through a guardrail, slammed into a metal pole and was torn apart.
"There is some evidence to believe that excessive speed was the cause of the accident," Hillside Police Chief Robert Quinlan said, adding that the route is notorious for accidents.
Dossantos and Xavier were killed instantly. The three in the back, including Pinherio, were all ejected from the car. Pinherio later died at the hospital.
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"We have asked the State of New Jersey several times to put more warnings down there. As of yet, we haven't seen that happen. We would like to see specifically flashing signals," Quinlan said.
This section of Route 22, which has a 45 mph speed limit, is narrow and curvy and there are numerous accidents there, Quinlan added.
"Route 22 is a dangerous area, particularly this area in Hillside. The speed limit is 45. Anything over that is very, very risky," he said.
Tony Asivito says the accident happened in the same spot where there's a memorial for his friend 26-year-old Lucas Nacimento died a week ago in an accident.
"It's another tragedy," he said. "That was my friend. He was coming up from Tom's River. He lost control and he lost his life."
