Teenager dies from injuries
sustained in car crash
By alison granito
Staff Writer
EAST WINDSOR — An Allentown teenager died over the weekend from severe injuries she suffered in a car accident almost a week before.
Three other local teens were also injured when their car skidded more than 100 feet and struck a guardrail on Route 571 in East Windsor on Aug. 27.
Nadia Zendaki, 16, of Allentown spent much of the time after the accident until her death late Saturday in critical condition at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, according to police and hospital officials. Zendaki, who was riding in the rear passenger side of the car, was ejected through the rear passenger-side window of the vehicle.
East Windsor Police Lt. Joseph M. Bonavico said last week that Zendaki suffered "extensive head injuries" and had to be airlifted from the scene of the accident to Robert Wood Johnson.
"She was thrown from the window and out onto the pavement," he said, adding that police believe she may also have struck the guardrail on the side of the road.
Zendaki would have entered the 11th grade at Allentown High School this week where she played the snare drum in the marching band, and served as wrestling team manager and score board operator. She is survived by her parents, Sala and Kathleen Zendaki; two brothers, Sham’s and Omar; two sisters, Maryann and Jasmin; and other relatives.
According to police, the car was traveling northwest on Route 571, known as Etra Road in East Windsor Township, when the driver apparently lost control of the Toyota Corolla, and came to rest perpendicular to traffic.
Matthew G. Reiter, 17, of East Windsor was identified by police as the driver of the vehicle.
Reiter and the two other passengers, Joel Ortiz, 18, of Roosevelt, and Sandra Ortiz, 15, of East Windsor were transported to other area hospitals for treatment and have recovered or are expected to recover from their injuries, according to police.
Police said that Joel Ortiz, who was riding in the front passenger side of the car, was also ejected from the vehicle upon impact. He suffered a head injury and was airlifted from the scene.
Although no charges have been filed at this time, Bonifacio said that the accident remains under investigation by the East Windsor Township Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office’s Serious Collision Reconstruction Team.