Man charged in New Jersey crash on I-80 that killed 2 adults, baby

ROCKAWAY TWP., N.J. -- New Jersey state police say a man driving on a suspended license caused a chain-reaction crash that killed two adults and a baby.

The crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. Saturday on a stretch of Interstate 80 in Rockaway Township.

Authorities say a sport utility vehicle and a car were stopped in traffic when another SUV driven by 22-year-old Bhavuk Uppal, of Mountain Lakes, struck the car from behind.

The car then struck the SUV in front of it, and that SUV ran off the right side of the road and overturned in a grass embankment.

Meanwhile, the car became engulfed in flames, and the three occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene around 4 a.m. Their names have not been released.

Uppal was charged with three counts of death by auto, two counts of assault by auto and single counts of causing death or injury while driving while suspended, DWI and possession of drug paraphernalia.

His bail was set at $300,000 cash, and it wasn't known if he has retained an attorney.

Uppal was treated at a hospital for undisclosed injuries and was later released.

Two people in the other SUV - 26-year-old K Santiago-Madera and 32-year-old Brandon Green, both of the Bronx, New York - were both being treated at a hospital for injuries that are not considered life-threatening.