A horrific late-night crash left three New Jersey women dead, and their hometown searching for answers Saturday.
A series of gut-wrenching videos posted to Instagram show the vibrant young women preening, drinking, dancing and toasting each other in the hours before the deadly collision.
“These are all of my high school friends. These are the people I grew up with,” trumpets Michaela Powell on her Instagram.
The trio — who went to the same high school — died when their car rear-ended a tractor-trailer in Woodbridge late Friday, police said.
Brianna Martinez, 23, was driving a Nissan Altima on Route 1 near Ford Avenue when the car struck the tractor-trailer as the truck was pulling away from a stoplight at around 11:50 p.m., according to Sgt. Philip Agosta of the Woodbridge Police.
“This is a tragic accident,” Agosta said.
The driver of the truck stayed at the scene, and there are no pending arrests, police added.
Powell, 23, and Uchechukw Chukwuma, 24, both passengers in the Nissan, were pronounced dead at the scene. Martinez was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where she died.
On Powell’s Instagram story, Chukwuma, a Syracuse University grad and aspiring lawyer, recounts how in senior year of high school “we used to skip school all of the time.”
Powell’s heartbroken mom, Linda, shared the news of the tragedy on Facebook Saturday morning, noting, “I do not post much that is personal but do not have current emails for many friends & family [sic] so am posting this sad news. Our daughter Michaela was killed in a car accident around midnight tonight 12/20-12/21. Thanks to all for the outpouring of support …”
Her post triggered a flood of condolences.
All three of the victims were from the Somerset section of Franklin Township, police said, and were 2014 graduates of Franklin High School, Dana Karas, the director of counseling for Franklin Township Public Schools, told NJ Advance Media.
“Our hearts are broken. Please keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers,” Franklin Township Mayor Phil Kramer said in a statement.
The fatal crash also sent shockwaves through Franklin High alum.
“FRANKLIN lost 3 beautiful ladies. R.I.P. Condolences to their family…” Jerica Ramirez a Franklin High grad, posted on her Facebook page, along with a photo of each of the women posing. “Please franklin I beg you to not drink and drive.”
Powell’s neighbors were stunned by the news.
“She was a sweet girl, I couldn’t believe what happened,” said a man who identified himself only as Richard R. “It’s such a tragedy. I didn’t know them well but I really feel bad for her folks.”
Lamented another neighbor: “Such a nice, beautiful person taken from us too soon.”
