A longtime high school coach and his wife were killed when their Hyundai SUV suddenly accelerated and crashed into a neighbor’s home just after 6 p.m. Saturday, igniting a fire that engulfed the vehicle and left the house uninhabitable, police said. The victims were identified as Thomas Hengel, 72, and his wife, Lisa Hengel, 61, both of Mullica Hill. No one inside the home was hurt.
The crash jolted a quiet Gloucester County neighborhood and sent waves of grief through the Clearview Regional school community, where Thomas “Tom” Hengel coached generations of athletes. Investigators on Monday said early evidence points to a tragic accident and that there are no signs of criminal activity. Police and fire officials are examining the SUV and the crash site to determine why the vehicle accelerated across yards and into the structure. The house was deemed unsafe to occupy. Friends and former students described the Hengels as generous and deeply rooted in the township.
Police said the collision happened on Banff Drive in the Mullica Hill section of Harrison Township. The Hyundai crossed a curb, traveled through two lawns and struck the front of the neighboring home, sparking flames that climbed the façade within minutes as crews arrived. Neighbors rushed outside as smoke rose above the cul-de-sac. “The flames were up by the roof. They were up high,” said neighbor Gary DeVine, who watched firefighters pull hose lines as officers secured the street. Officials said responders found the SUV fully involved and the home’s occupants already moving to safety from another part of the house.
Authorities identified Thomas Hengel as a retired educator and coach at Clearview Regional High School, where he led cross-country and track programs over four decades and previously coached basketball and baseball. He graduated from Clearview in 1972, later returning as a teacher for 33 years. Colleagues credited him with building a program known for its steady preparation and emphasis on character. He was named Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2022 and inducted into the Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. Lisa Hengel worked for decades as a landscape designer in South Jersey and was known among neighbors for her eye for gardens and seasonal plantings. Officials did not immediately release funeral arrangements.
Investigators said a formal reconstruction is underway. Tasks include downloading the SUV’s event data recorder, mapping tire tracks and impact points, reviewing nearby doorbell cameras and interviewing witnesses. Police said they are also checking for recent maintenance records and any history of mechanical issues. The front portion of the home sustained significant fire and structural damage; township inspectors posted the residence as uninhabitable pending repairs. Fire officials said crews contained the blaze to the primary strike area and prevented a full collapse.
Residents described a burst of engine noise followed by a heavy thud and a quick-moving fire. Several said they attempted to approach but retreated as heat intensified. Yellow tape cordoned off the block through the night while investigators photographed debris and charted the path of the SUV across the lawns. By Sunday afternoon, scorched siding and a boarded opening marked the impact point. Disposal crews collected burned materials as insurance representatives documented the scene. The family living in the damaged house arranged temporary lodging, according to neighbors.
At Clearview Regional, administrators lowered campus flags and notified families that counseling staff would be available for students and alumni who knew the Hengels. Former athletes posted tributes describing Hengel as a steady mentor who treated competitors like family. Track and cross-country alumni recalled long practices along rural roads and handwritten notes he sent before big meets. “Coach believed in us before we believed in ourselves,” one former runner said. Teachers who worked alongside him cited his habit of staying late to review grades and to check in with athletes about classes, not just times on a stopwatch.
Harrison Township police said they will issue an initial crash summary after evidence technicians finish measurements and collect data from the vehicle. The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office is assisting with standard procedures for fatal crashes, including autopsies and toxicology, though officials stressed they have found nothing to suggest impairment or foul play. Any determination about contributing factors—medical episode, mechanical failure or driver error—will come after the reconstruction and lab reviews are complete.
The Hengels’ deaths underscored the close-knit nature of the Mullica Hill community, still recovering from severe storm damage in recent years. Neighbors said the couple often walked the block at dusk and chatted with passersby about gardens and school results. A small memorial of flowers and track ribbons appeared near the damaged home’s mailbox by Monday morning. On local social media pages, residents offered help to the displaced family and posted photos of Hengel at meets wearing Clearview green.
Officials said the investigation will continue this week with a focus on the vehicle systems and on finishing the scene diagram. A township update is expected after investigators retrieve and analyze electronic data from the SUV and verify timing from nearby cameras. Clearview Regional leaders said they are planning a remembrance on campus, with details to be shared after the family sets services.
As of Tuesday, Jan. 20, police described the case as an active crash investigation with no criminal elements identified. The home remains posted as uninhabitable, and the street is open except for occasional inspection work. The next milestone is the release of the reconstruction report and the family’s service plans later this week.
Author note: Last updated January 20, 2026.