A fatal four-vehicle collision on Route 10 in New Jersey claimed the lives of four individuals, including a young child, on Thursday, as confirmed by authorities. Among the deceased was Yexsel Reyes Granados, a four-year-old boy who succumbed to his injuries on Friday, following the accident involving a minivan from P.G. Chambers School. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office also reported the deaths of two other minivan passengers, Bertha Castaneda, 67, and Maria Figueroa, 58.
The catastrophic accident resulted in two of the four vehicles being completely wrecked, with one car’s doors entirely blown off. Diane Goetz, 71, who was driving one of the other vehicles involved, was identified as the fourth fatality.
In addition to the fatalities, another child is currently hospitalized, and two adults sustained injuries that necessitated medical intervention. The specifics of their conditions remain undisclosed.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll expressed his condolences, stating, “This is a horrible tragedy for the Morris County community and beyond. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives, and with those whose lives will undoubtedly be impacted by their loss.”
A GoFundMe page was established to support the family of young Yexsel Granados. The page paid tribute to the four-year-old, describing him as a “courageous” child who brought “joy, love, and warmth” to everyone around him. His loss was described as a “tragedy beyond words.”
The GoFundMe page also alleged that the school minivan was struck by a car traveling at a speed exceeding 80 miles per hour. However, officials have yet to comment on the circumstances surrounding the accident.