Teen Driver Drifts Into Oncoming Traffic, Injures 5 in Hopatcong Wreck: Cops

Five motorists, including four special needs adults and a teenager were taken to area hospitals after a two-vehicle crash Wednesday, Lt. Thomas Kmetz said.

The crash occurred at 2:34 p.m. on Stanhope-Sparta Road when a 17-year-old student had left Lenape Valley High School en route to Sparta, Kmetz said.

The teen driver drifted from his lane into the oncoming lane and collided head on with a van carrying seven special needs adults, Kmetz said.

The teen driver was trapped inside his vehicle and pinned against the dashboard, requiring the jaws-of-life to get him out of the vehicle, Kmetz said.

The teen suffered a laceration to his leg only and was wearing his seatbelt, Kmetz said.

The occupants inside the van sustained a broken angle, three broken vertebrae in the neck, two teeth knocked out and 46 stitches, and two lacerations requiring stitches.

Emergency personnel from around the area responded to the scene and the road was closed for several hours during the investigation.

The teen driver was issued summonses for failure to keep right and careless driving.

Photo Courtesy Hopatcong Police Department