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Vehicle hits tree, bursts into flames in Salem County
BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Caleb Harris of Camden was arrested early Thursday after he attempted to elude State Police in Pennsville, Salem County, and crashed his jeep which caught fire and led to the death of an unidentified, trapped passenger.
Harris, 19, was driving south on Route 295 at 2:50 a.m. when troopers from the Woodstown Barracks attempted to stop his GMC Jimmy for a motor vehicle violation. Harris disregarded a signal to pull over and exited onto Route 49 eastbound at Exit 2. He then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree.
The jeep sustained extensive damage on the passenger side and burst into flames. Troopers immediately pulled Harris to safety but were unsuccessful in removing the passenger. The passenger remained unidentified as of late Thursday afternoon.
Troopers and responding Emergency Medical Services personnel attempted to douse the flames with fire extinguishers, but were unable to due to the intensity of the fire. The Pennsville Fire Department arrived and was finally able to extinguish the blaze. The passenger was pulled from the jeep, but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Harris was arrested and transported to Cooper Hospital for treatment of his injuries. He is charged with first degree aggravated manslaughter, first degree death by auto, drunk driving, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's license causing a death and eluding. His bail has been set at $500,000 and he will be lodged at the Salem County Jail after he is released from the hospital.
—TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
