One dead in head-on crash Friday in Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE TWP. - A Plainfield woman was killed and three other people were injured early Friday in a head-on collision on Route 206 near Hermanne Drive that police believe was likely caused by an icy road condition.

Township Capt. Steve Beecher said police and emergency responders were dispatched around 6:19 a.m. Friday to a serious crash on Route 206 near its intersection with Hermanne Drive and near the Chester Township border.

Police have determined that a 2007 Nissan Sentra operated by Jennifer Peralta-Perez, 25, of Plainfield, was traveling north on Route 206 and crossed over the double yellow line into the southbound lane of travel, police said in a news release Friday afternoon.

Peralta-Perez's mother, Elida Perez-Morel, 45, of Plainfield, was a passenger in the Sentra and died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, according to authorities.

The Sentra collided with a 2004 Saturn Vue that was traveling south on Route 206.  The force of the crash caused the Saturn, driven by Edward Wintermute, 47, of Newton, to leave the road and come to a final rest in a grassy area on the southbound shoulder, police said.

The Flanders Fire Department responded to extricate Peralta-Perez and Wintermute from their vehicles and they were transported to Morristown Medical Center for treatment.

Perez-Morel, the Sentra passenger, also was transported to Morristown Medical Center where she died of her injuries, police said. Maria Santos, 61, of Succasunna, was a passenger in the Saturn Vue and was brought to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

No charges have been filed and the crash remains under investigation by Mount Olive Police Department's Traffic Bureau.

"It appears that an icing condition may have been a factor in the collision," police said.

Route 206 was closed in both directions for about three hours.  Mount Olive Police were assisted by Flanders Fire Department, ambulances from Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, paramedics from St. Clare's Hospital, New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Morris County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Section and New Jersey State Police Incident Management Unit.

The investigation is being led by Sgt. Eric Anthony and Officer John Bevacqua.

   Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.