By:Jeff Mikalaitis
Two separate auto accidents on opposite sides of town last week claimed the lives of a township woman and a Trenton man.
Denise S. Lang, 38, of Monmouth Junction was killed late Friday afternoon when her car veered across Route 535 and collided with a truck. Melivn L. Boone, 49, of Trenton was killed early Saturday when he veered into a utility pole.
The two accidents bring the total number of fatal crashes this year to four — three more than all of last year. The increase, however, does not indicate an increased danger on township roads, Patrol Officer William Grischuk of the Traffic Safety Bureay said. The two earlier accidents, which occurred in January, were caused by snow-covered road conditions. Last year’s crash was alcohol-related.
Police said Ms. Lang was heading north on Route 535 when her 1996 Toyota Camry crossed the center line and collided with a southbound Mercedes-Benz truck driven by James J. Cali, 51 of Bricktown. The accident occurred south of the intersection of Route 32 in Dayton.
Ms. Lang was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Cali was uninjured.
Officer Grischuk said the accident’s cause has not been determined and it is unknown why Ms. Lang veered across the road. The accident remains under investigation by the department’s Traffic Safety Bureau.
Ms. Lang moved to Monmouth Junction six years ago and worked in the data-entry department at the Aetna Insurance Co. in Cranbury. She is survived by her children, Daniel and Melanie; her parents, Walter J. and Mary Sypeck; her brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Debbie Sypeck and her sister, Brenda Sypeck.
Mr. Boone was killed at 4:31 a.m. while driving his 1990 Yugo south on Route 1 near the Independence Way exit. Police said his car went off the road and stuck a utility pole head on. Mr. Boone was pronounced dead at the scene by the Middlesex County Paramedics. He was removed from the vehicle by the Kingston Fire Department.
No cause has been determined and police do not know why Mr. Boone veered off the road, Officer Grischuk said. The accident is still under investigation by Patrol Officer William Grischuk.
