Victims in fatal New Year’s crash identified by police

South Brunswick Police have identified the people involved in a fatal accident on Route 1 on the morning of New Year's Day as their investigation into the crash continues.

Azel M Hernandez Vargas, 27 of Toms River was behind the wheel of a 2005 Nissan Sentra crossing the highway at Dean's Lane when it was broadsided by a 2009 Nissan Quest minivan heading north on Route 1 around 6 a.m. according to police, sending the Sentra into a utility pole and trapping all five occupants inside. Police earlier said Vargas may have been distracted by a cell phone and ran a red light, but the exact circumstances leading to the crash have not been determined.

Passenger Blanca Azucena Hernandez Vargas,13, also of Toms River, died a from her injuries. Sentra passenger Cirilo Velazquez-Roja, 21 of Lakewood remains in critical condition and Ilda Hernandez, 21 of Toms River has been upgraded to stable condition. The other occupants of the Sentra--Sarah Zollner, 19, of Toms River an Azel were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Toms River School District spokeswoman Tammi Millar said Vargas was a student at Toms River Intermediate North.

"The school is deeply saddened at the loss of someone so young," said Millar, adding that the district crisis team is in place to support both the school and the family.

Paramjit Singh, 59, of North Brunswick, Rajinder Kaur, 59 and Harinder Kaur, 32 were all treated and released for non-life threatening injuries.

No charges have yet been filed in the incident. South Brunswick Police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to call 732-329-4000 ext. 7472.