WANAQUE, N.J. — A devastating multi-vehicle crash on Ringwood Avenue claimed the lives of two drivers — including a 26-year-old Wanaque resident — late Sunday night, according to authorities. A dog was also killed in the violent collision that has left the local community shaken.
The crash, which occurred just north of Haskell Elementary School around 8:30 p.m., involved four vehicles — a Honda Accord, Lexus GS-350, Subaru Legacy, and BMW 2 Series, officials confirmed in a joint statement issued Monday morning by Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wanaque Police Chief Keith V. Spillane.
“The driver of the Honda Accord, a 26-year-old male from Wanaque, and the driver of the Lexus GS-350, a 63-year-old male from New York, New York, were pronounced deceased,” the statement said.
According to eyewitnesses, one of the vehicles appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed, possibly exceeding 80 miles per hour, before it crossed the median and struck another car head-on. The force of the impact reportedly sent one of the vehicles onto its side, triggering a chain reaction involving two additional cars.
Firefighters worked urgently to extricate trapped victims from the wreckage as police and paramedics arrived on scene. Despite their efforts, both drivers succumbed to their injuries.
A source close to the investigation said two dogs were inside the Lexus at the time of the crash — one died at the scene, while the other was transported to a local veterinarian for emergency care.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by detectives from the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, assisted by the county sheriff’s office and Wanaque police. Investigators are working to determine whether speed, driver error, a medical emergency, or mechanical failure played a role.
Responders from Wanaque, Ringwood, and Pompton Lakes fire and EMS departments assisted at the chaotic scene.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Haskell Elementary School delayed the start of classes Monday morning as the community came to grips with the heartbreaking loss.
The quiet borough of Wanaque now mourns two lives lost too soon — victims of a violent crash that serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly tragedy can strike.