2 Die In Head-On Crash With SUV That Was Passing On Rt. 31 In Hopewell

HOPEWELL, NJ — Two people, including a teen boy, have died and two others were seriously injured when a driver passing traffic in a no-passing zone on Route 31 crashed into their car head on Sunday night, police said.

Hopewell police said Kongmi Khu, 32, of Brooklyn is in custody and will be charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter and additional charges.

On Sunday, Feb. 11, Hopewell police officers went to the scene of the crash at about 10:48 p.m. on Route 31. Officers found that a blue Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Khu, had struck a grey Nissan Maxima.

Police said the initial investigation shows that the driver of the Jeep was traveling south on Route 31 when he attempted to pass two vehicles in a no-passing zone. As he began the pass, the Jeep struck the Nissan, which was traveling north.

The front-seat passenger in the Maxima, a 13-year-old boy, was transported to the Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton and then flown to Cooper University Medical Center where he ultimately died from his injuries, police said.

The driver of the Nissan, a Ewing man, 59, was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said.

The two rear-seat passengers, women ages 32 and 35, were transported by ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital where they remain in serious but stable condition, according to police.

Khu, the Jeep driver, also was transported by ambulance from the scene and was later released to authorities after being treated for minor injuries at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

The investigation is ongoing at this time. The crash is being investigated by Officer Robert Voorhees and Detective Christopher Collins of the Hopewell Township Police Department, as well as Detectives from the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Detective Christopher Collins at 609-737-3100, ext. 5790.

Police did not release the identities of the victims as of Monday.