Charges are pending against two Burlington County drivers whose reported need for speed resulted in three deaths Sunday.

The first accident took place around 1:00 pm near Wood Street in Burlington City where a car ended up in the Delaware River after the front-end had broke through the ice.

The Burlington County Prosecutors Office, whose investigating both Sunday accidents, say the driver was speeding along Riverbank Road when he lost control of his car and struck a parked mini-van, sending his car over a guardrail and into the Delaware River.

The driver then got out and ran, leaving the female passenger inside as the car broke through the ice.

She passed away a short time later at Lourdes Medical Center in Willingboro after being rescued by The Burlington City Fire Department, Burlington Township Fire Department, Endeavor Emergency Squad and Croydon (Pa.) Fire Company

The driver was later picked up by police officers from the Beverly City Police Department and Edgewater Park Township Police Department.

He was taken to Lourdes for a medical evaluation.

This investigation is ongoing.

The names of the driver and the deceased passenger are being withheld at this time and no charges have been filed at this point.

 

Just a couple hours after speeding caused a fatality in Burlington County, another at 4:30 pm killed two people inside a mini-van who were sent over a guardrail by a car in Willingboro.

The 29-year old driver was allegedly flying on Route 130 when he struck a minivan waiting to cross from Route 130 onto Bridgeboro Road on the jug handle.

Amish Patel of Delanco lost control of his car while police say he was exceeding the speed limit and after hitting the minivan, the vehicle went over the guardrail, down an embankment and into a body of water part of Olympia Lakes.

52-year old Robery Stephens and his wife Janet, 50-years old of Burlington Township were pronounced dead at Lourdes Medical Center a short time after being rescued from the water.

The collision is being investigated by the Prosecutor's Office and the Willingboro Township Police Department.

Assistance was provided at the scene by the Edgewater Park Township Police Department and the New Jersey State Police.

No charges have been filed at this point.

Prosecutors say the investigation will look into whether criminal behavior was responsible for the collision and the subsequent deaths.

Investigators are also waiting for the results of toxicology tests conducted on blood drawn from Patel following the accident.

Patel may be charged with traffic summonses in municipal court.

Anyone who witnessed the this accident unfold is asked to call Burlington County Central Communications at 609-265-7113.

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