An SUV and a passenger van collided nearly head-on in Lakewood, N.J. Tuesday, injuring more than a dozen people.
Fourteen people in total were hurt; six were listed in critical condition with head injuries and respiratory distress after the crash at New Hampshire Avenue and Pine Street at about 7 p.m.
Local police said it was among one of the worst accidents they've seen.
"We have a lot of major highways, we have serious accidents. But this one's very serious," said Lakewood police officer Erik Menck.
Sources familiar with the incident said a preliminary investigation shows the white van was attempting to make a left turn when the SUV slammed into it. It's not clear if either driver saw the other.
Alcohol did not play a role in the crash, authorities said.
The passengers were employees of a contractor for Enterprise car rental company, said Ford. They had just dropped off some Enterprise cars at the Lakewood dealership and were being driven back to Newark.
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The driver and the passenger inside the SUV were treated and released from a local hospital, according to authorities. The investigation is ongoing.