3 killed in 2-car crash in Jackson
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/12/07
BY MARGARET F. BONAFIDE
TOMS RIVER BUREAU
Post Comment
JACKSON — Three young women died Tuesday as a result of injuries suffered in a two-car collision Monday afternoon on East Veterans Highway.
Julie Tracy, 17, Kristen OHara, 19, and Alexandra Tenneriello, 19, all of Jackson, were pronounced dead on Tuesday, said Capt. Michael Mohel of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
The three were passengers in a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer driven by Nicole Greenberg, 17, of Jackson, who was treated and released from CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township, Mohel said.
Tenneriello was pronounced dead at 2:40 a.m. Tuesday at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where she was taken following the crash. OHara and Tracy died Tuesday afternoon at the Neptune hospital, Mohel said.
The Mitsubishi collided with a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Natercia Clanton, 33, of Waretown. Clanton was treated and released from CentraState, officials said. Her two passengers — her mother, Rosa Moco, age unavailable, and her sister, Anabela Moco, 31, both of Jackson — were also hurt in the crash.
The crash happened shortly after a heavy rainstorm, "right in front of the Little League field where there is a big curve which played a part in the crash," said Jackson police Sgt. Brian Geoghegan. Police said Monday the Mitsubishi driver appeared to have lost control and swerved into the opposite lanes.
The investigation into what caused the crash is continuing.
Friends distraught
Tracy, who attended Jackson Memorial High School, was pronounced dead with her family and friends at her side, said a friend, Kaila Gordon, 17, of Jackson, who was at the hospital.
"She was one of the funniest girls I ever met," said Eric Michels, 19, of Jackson, who graduated Jackson Memorial in June. "I never laughed as much as I did with her. We could do absolutely nothing, and it would be fun because I was with her."
Michels and Tracy had spent a day at the beach together about three weeks ago, he said. It was the last time he saw his friend of two years.
Gordon and Tracy had been on the cheerleading squad in their freshman, sophomore and junior years.
Tracy had tried out for cheerleading this year but didn't make it past the second cut, Gordon said. Just a few days ago, the girls highlighted each other's hair.
"She was beautiful and amazing," Gordon said of Tracy.
Gordon said that she and Tracy had not seen Greenberg for a long time when last week Gordon received a call from her. Greenberg had dropped out of school and attended night school, Gordon said.
"Three days ago, Nicky called and said "What's up? Want to get lunch?' and the three of us were hanging out," Gordon said.
The loss of her friend is "surreal," she said. "I can't even fathom this."
"A lot in common"
Cory Suzuki, 18, of Jackson was a close friend of OHara and Tenneriello. They met at the end of his senior year in 2007 and were his best friends, he said. Suzuki was in his dorm room at the Philadelphia University of the Arts when he spoke about the pair.
OHara and Tenneriello visited him recently, and "We wandered around Philly all night and went to Pat's Cheesesteaks and had watched all the interesting people," Suzuki said.
They were together almost every day of the summer, he said.
Suzuki said OHara's family moved to Florida, but she returned during the summer. Authorities said her family lives in Dania, Fla.
"They are probably the only two people who understood me," Suzuki said. "They tended to cheer me up.
"Kristen and I had a lot in common," Suzuki said. "I have a pass for them to come visit tomorrow. It is in my drawer. I can't even open the drawer. They would be so mad at me if they saw me sitting here crying all day."
The crisis team at the high school, which counseled students and staff in March when two students were killed in a car crash, again assembled resources for the news Tuesday, said Allison Erwin, district spokeswoman.
The school district posted the news of the crash on its Web site with information about resources for students and staff.
After Tenneriello died, students clung to hopes that the other two accident victims would take a turn for the better.
"It was collective sensation of people holding their breath looking for good news," Erwin said.
The district is being vigilant in identifying students who need help with the tragedy, Erwin said.
Investigators continue to seek witnesses to the crash. Anyone with information is asked to call the Vehicular Homicide Unit of the Prosecutor's Office at (732) 929-2027, or the Jackson Police Department Traffic and Safety Unit at (732) 928-1111. |
