2 killed, dozen injured after van flips on Garden State Parkway
Two people died when a van flipped over Friday night on the Garden State Parkway.
State Police Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Williams said the 2001 Ford passenger van driven by Manuel Perez, 55, of Elizabeth, was carrying 14 people when Perez lost control around 6:45 p.m. in the northbound express lanes in Holmdel. A dozen passengers were injured, according to Williams. Four were hospitalized via medical helicopter.
Preliminary investigation shows Perez lost control of the van and crossed the highway from the left lane, striking the guard rail and then the concrete overpass support. Williams said the van continued to spin out of control and crossed the road again, striking Esperanca Guardado-Quintani, 53, of Elizabeth, who had been ejected from the van. Charles Derosier, 31, from Irvington, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
No charges have been filed.
Williams did not know if strong thunderstorms moving through Monmouth County at the time had an effect on the crash. He did not know if the passengers were co-workers or where they began their trip.
The Parkway was closed for almost four hours for clean up and investigation.
Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com
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