New Jersey

3 Die as Stolen SUV Strikes Pole, Catches Fire in New Jersey

The stolen GMC Yukon struck a pole in Tabernacle, New Jersey shortly before noon Monday.

UPDATE: Family members have identified one of the three people who died. New details HERE.


Three people died after an SUV stolen from a popular eatery crashed into a pole and caught fire in Tabernacle, New Jersey on Monday.

The 1999 green GMC Yukon struck a pole at Flyatt and Carranza roads shortly before noon. The vehicle caught fire and three people died from their injuries, state police said.

The vehicle was stolen around noon Monday from the Pic-A-Lilli Inn about 6-½ miles away on U.S. Route 206 in Shamong, state police said.

Troopers spotted the SUV traveling away from the restaurant as they responded to the stolen vehicle call, prompting them to turn around and follow the vehicle, state police said.

State police said the SUV then sped up and began driving erratically. The vehicle crashed a short distance later.

Police have not yet identified the people killed in the crash. They had initially only confirmed two deaths.

The crash occurred only a few feet away from Sequoia Alternative Program, which is part of the Lenape Regional School District, on Carranza Road. More than 50 students and employees from the program were evacuated due to roads being closed in the area. The students and staff were taken to a transportation yard about 5 miles away where parents picked their children up.

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