Route 31 collision in Hopewell Township kills high school senior

🚨 A northbound Honda Civic crossed the yellow line in front of a southbound truck

🚨 The victim was a student at Lenape High School

🚨 Route 31 was closed in both directions for several hours

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP (Mercer) — A Burlington County high school senior was killed in a head-on crash between a car and a tractor-trailer early Tuesday afternoon.

Township police said a Honda Civic near Titus Mill Road crossed into the northbound lane and into the path of the truck just after noon. All three occupants of the Honda were hospitalized. One of the victims was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Video from the crash shows heavy front end damage to the Honda. The sedan's airbags were deployed.

The victim was a Lenape High School student, according to a letter to the school community from principal Tony Cattani obtained by New Jersey 101.5.

"We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the student's family and friends and ask that you join us in respecting their privacy as they take time to grieve during this exceptionally difficult time. We understand that this loss will be felt throughout our school and our district," Cattani wrote.

"Two of the student's friends, also members of the Class of 2025, were injured."

Cattani did not disclose the student's identity.

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Second fatal crash on Route 31 in May

The Burlington County Crisis Response Team was at the school to assist students, families, staff, and community with counseling support to assist with the grieving process, according to Cattani.

High school students from Evesham Township, Medford Lakes, Medford, Mount Laurel, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township and Woodland Township attend Lenape Regional.

The crash closed the highway in both directions for several hours.

Police asked any witnesses to the crash to call them at 609-737-3100.

It was the ninth fatal crash in Mercer County this year and the second on Route 31 in Hopewell this month, according to State police records.

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