High School Senior Killed In Crash, Leaving BurlCo Community In Mourning

Correction: Lenape High School draws its student body from Mount Laurel, while the Lenape Regional High School District serves students from several municipalities.

HOPEWELL, NJ — A Lenape High School senior was killed and two of their classmates were seriously injured in a head-on crash Tuesday in Hopewell Township, officials said.

The students were in a car that collided with a tractor-trailer. All three were hospitalized, and one of them succumbed to their injuries later that day.

• Read more: 1 Dead, 2 Injured After Car Crashes Head-On With Tractor-Trailer In Mercer County

All three were seniors at Lenape High School in Medford, according to Principal Tony Cattani. Their identities were withheld as of Thursday morning.

Lenape High School draws its student body from Mount Laurel.

"Our thoughts are with all of the families involved during this extremely difficult time," Cattani wrote to families. "As we navigate this loss, I know, as always, our school community will come together to support one another with compassion and care. Please continue to look after one another."

The Burlington County Crisis Response Team was mobilized Wednesday morning to assist students and staff with emotional support.

The mayor of Mount Laurel said he was "deeply saddened" to learn that three local students were involved in the crash. Mount Laurel makes up much of Lenape High School's student body.

"I want to extend our Council and Township's thoughts to our students and their families in this incredibly difficult time," Mayor Nikitas Moustakas said in a statement. "We are here to offer support to the families of our local community in any way we can."

The crash happened around noon on Route 31 in Mercer County's Hopewell Township. A Honda Civic was traveling south when it crossed into the northbound side and hit a tractor-trailer head-on, according to the preliminary police investigation.

Township police and the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office have been investigating the incident.