Woman ejected from car, fatally run over by another on Turnpike Christmas Eve

The woman killed in a Christmas Eve crash on the New Jersey Turnpike was ejected from one car, then run over by another in a three-vehicle incident that shut down the north outer lanes of the highway for hours.

Sgt. First Class Gregory Williams told New Jersey 101.5 21-year-old Milagro Aceituno of Baltimore, Md. was killed in the crash, which took place just before 8 p.m. in the area of mile marker 70.7, near Exit 8.

Five people suffered non-life-threatening injured in the crash, Williams said. He wasn't sure if they were all from the same vehicle but said he believed that to be the case. The others who were injured were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, he said.

Williams said a Ford Escort in which Aceituno had been a rear-center-seat passenger was traveling north in the center lane when its driver lost control, and the car stuck a  black Chevrolet Malibu. Aceituno was ejected from the Escort and it struck a left guardrail before coming to a stop, he said.

The Malibu struck the right concrete barrier before it stopped, Williams said.

A third vehicle, a black Mercury sable heading north, struck Aceituno after she'd been ejected, Williams said.

The roadway remained closed until 11:37, with traffic being diverted to the inner car lanes.

Williams said alcohol isn't believed to have been a factor, and so far no one has been charged. The investigation into what caused the crash is continuing.