thedrifter
02-25-07, 04:27 AM
Marines killed in Jersey crash
Sunday, February 25, 2007
By BILL WICHERT
Herald Staff Writer
RANDOLPH — Two Marines died and three others were injured after their car smashed into a tree Friday night, a few hours after one of the men was honored for saving students in a bus accident in September, police said.
Sgt. William Pascal, 27, of Newton and Staff Sgt. Eric Maul, 31, of Dover died following the crash, police said, and Sgts. Nicholas Gendron, 26, of Dover, Glendale Stamaria, 30, of Jersey City, and Thomas Sweeney, 27, of Lakeville, Pa. remained in intensive care at Morristown Memorial Hospital Saturday night.
Some of the Marines were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident, and speed is part of the reason for the crash, police said. It was not clear where the five Marines, all of whom were recruiters, were headed when the accident occurred.
Before the 8:35 p.m. accident along Franklin Road in Randolph, Gendron was one of the recipients at the Sussex County Human Spirit Award ceremony for his involvement in rescuing victims of the Sept. 28 school bus accident at the intersection of Routes 181 and 517 in Sparta.
"I figured it was just another day at the job," Gendron said after the ceremony at Sussex County Community College in Newton. "I'm glad I got to use (my training as a Marine) at the right time, for the right reasons." A fellow Marine and his wife accompanied Gendron to the award ceremony.
According to Randolph Police, Gendron was driving a government-owned 2006 Dodge Stratus on Franklin Road, near the Denville Township border, police said. For an unknown reason, the vehicle crossed the oncoming lane and ran off the road, hitting a tree, police said. When the Randolph police arrived, Gendron was conscious and alert, police said.
One of the backseat passengers was thrown from the car, police said. Maul was declared dead at the scene, and Pascal was pronounced dead at Morristown Memorial Hospital at 1:41 a.m. Saturday, police said.
The roadway has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour in Denville, and it changes to 35 miles per hour in Randolph, police said.
During the Sparta bus crash, Gendron was stopped at the red light, when he said a dump truck came flying past him and struck the driver's side of a school bus from Hopatcong High School. Gendron opened the emergency door in the rear of the bus, and helped the 16 students get to safety.
The Marine also freed the injured bus driver from her seat, and helped an injured chaperone off the bus.
"In a situation like that you're dealing with fuel (and fire) and our focus was on getting everyone out as quickly as possible," Gendron said the day of the bus crash. "I was more worried about the injured (than myself). I put myself first but my job is to protect the people of this country."
Friday's accident is still under investigation, police said. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Randolph Traffic Safety Bureau at 973-989-7021.
Ellie
Sunday, February 25, 2007
By BILL WICHERT
Herald Staff Writer
RANDOLPH — Two Marines died and three others were injured after their car smashed into a tree Friday night, a few hours after one of the men was honored for saving students in a bus accident in September, police said.
Sgt. William Pascal, 27, of Newton and Staff Sgt. Eric Maul, 31, of Dover died following the crash, police said, and Sgts. Nicholas Gendron, 26, of Dover, Glendale Stamaria, 30, of Jersey City, and Thomas Sweeney, 27, of Lakeville, Pa. remained in intensive care at Morristown Memorial Hospital Saturday night.
Some of the Marines were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident, and speed is part of the reason for the crash, police said. It was not clear where the five Marines, all of whom were recruiters, were headed when the accident occurred.
Before the 8:35 p.m. accident along Franklin Road in Randolph, Gendron was one of the recipients at the Sussex County Human Spirit Award ceremony for his involvement in rescuing victims of the Sept. 28 school bus accident at the intersection of Routes 181 and 517 in Sparta.
"I figured it was just another day at the job," Gendron said after the ceremony at Sussex County Community College in Newton. "I'm glad I got to use (my training as a Marine) at the right time, for the right reasons." A fellow Marine and his wife accompanied Gendron to the award ceremony.
According to Randolph Police, Gendron was driving a government-owned 2006 Dodge Stratus on Franklin Road, near the Denville Township border, police said. For an unknown reason, the vehicle crossed the oncoming lane and ran off the road, hitting a tree, police said. When the Randolph police arrived, Gendron was conscious and alert, police said.
One of the backseat passengers was thrown from the car, police said. Maul was declared dead at the scene, and Pascal was pronounced dead at Morristown Memorial Hospital at 1:41 a.m. Saturday, police said.
The roadway has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour in Denville, and it changes to 35 miles per hour in Randolph, police said.
During the Sparta bus crash, Gendron was stopped at the red light, when he said a dump truck came flying past him and struck the driver's side of a school bus from Hopatcong High School. Gendron opened the emergency door in the rear of the bus, and helped the 16 students get to safety.
The Marine also freed the injured bus driver from her seat, and helped an injured chaperone off the bus.
"In a situation like that you're dealing with fuel (and fire) and our focus was on getting everyone out as quickly as possible," Gendron said the day of the bus crash. "I was more worried about the injured (than myself). I put myself first but my job is to protect the people of this country."
Friday's accident is still under investigation, police said. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Randolph Traffic Safety Bureau at 973-989-7021.
Ellie