2 Killed in NJ; Man Charged with Death by Auto

Hudson County authorities say two people were killed and one badly burned after a drunk driver crashed his truck into a cab starting a fiery chain-reaction crash in Jersey City.

Thirty-four-year-old Herman Chandler of Jersey City was charged with two counts of death by auto and one of driving while intoxicated. The charges were reported by The Star-Ledger.

Authorities say the crash happened around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday when Chandler smashed his truck into a taxi, which burst into flames and was shoved onto a sidewalk.

A passenger in the cab, 44-year-old Jersey City resident James Fuller was killed. So was a pedestrian, Jairo Carmelo. The cab driver was injured but is expected to survive.

Chandler was in custody Thursday.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)