Authorities have identified the two men who lost their lives in a single-vehicle crash in Jackson Township during the early morning hours of February 15.
According to the Jackson Police Department, officers were initially dispatched to Hyson Road shortly before 12:08 a.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting a transformer down in the roadway. Additional emergency calls soon followed, indicating that a vehicle had crashed in the same area.
Police said a 2023 Toyota Highlander was traveling on Hyson Road when it left the roadway and struck a tree. The vehicle subsequently caught fire.
Investigators identified the driver as Denis Ricardo Zelaya Zapata, 29, of Toms River. The passenger was identified as Edwin Ramon Montolla Padilla, 36, of Paterson.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the SUV fully involved in fire, authorities said. Due to the severity of the blaze, first responders were unable to immediately reach the occupants. Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, and both men were later pronounced deceased at the scene.
Officials have not released additional details regarding the cause of the crash. The incident remains under active investigation by the Jackson Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have information related to the crash to contact Officer Matthew Kalbach at 732-928-1111.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.
