Teen identified in deadly car crash
BROOKLAWN, NEW JERSEY - January 10, 2008 The crash happened at the intersection of route 130 and Haakon Road in Brooklawn, Camden County.
Shortly after 1:00 Thursday morning a car, which had been traveling south on route 130 in Brooklawn, went out of control, hit the curb, and went airborne into a tree.
Gregory Bonfiglio, a volunteer firefighter, tried to assist police, but Hart was pronounced dead at Cooper Hospital about fifty minutes later.
Hart was a sophomore at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mt. Holly.
Today school officials provided counseling for about 150 students.
There are also plans for a memory service next week
The driving age in New Jersey is 17. Matthew Hart was 16 and driving without a license.
Brooklawn police say the car belonged to a relative of Hart's 22-year-old best friend. Investigators are trying to determine if Hart had permission to use the vehicle.
"It would be evident to me that inexperience and speed were, most likely, contributing factors, in this particular crash," Sgt. Steven Saymon of the Brooklawn police said.
Late Thursday afternoon, family and friends came to see where the teen lost his life.
There was some confusion after the accident because it was the police found 22-year-old's driver's license in the car. Initially, police were unsure who the victim was.
Police say toxicology tests are being done, but there was no indication that alcohol or drugs played a role in the fatal crash.
