Tragedy struck on Route 55 in Gloucester County on Thursday morning when a Jeep driving on the wrong side of the road collided head-on with a car, resulting in the deaths of both drivers, according to New Jersey State Police.
The fatal crash, captured on video, occurred just before 9 a.m. near Route 322 in Mantua Township. The victims were identified as Stanley Kahana, 62, of Philadelphia, and Jennifer Huffnel, 53, of Deptford, New Jersey.
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Authorities reported that Kahana was traveling south in his Jeep Compass on Route 55 before crossing over into the northbound lanes near milepost 51.8.
A video shared on social media, filmed from a car on the northbound side of the highway, captured the Jeep driving in the wrong direction as other vehicles swerved to avoid it. The Jeep ultimately collided with a Toyota Rav4 driven by Huffnel. Both vehicles overturned, with the Toyota catching fire.
The Gloucester County Emergency Management office announced a temporary closure of the northbound lanes of Route 55 between Exit 48 for Ellis Street and Glassboro and Exit 53 for Woodbury-Glassboro Road. However, all lanes have since been reopened.
One witness described her fortunate escape from the oncoming Jeep, saying she was grateful for the grassy median that offered her a safe space to maneuver. “Blessed we had that area to go to and you just kinda looked out my rearview and looked out ahead like, ‘What happened?'” Nancy McCann Foy recounted to CBS3. “It was a scary moment.”
New Jersey State Police are continuing their investigation into the tragic collision.