JERRY WOLKOWITZ Emergency services personnel prepare to transport a person who was involved in a motor vehicle accident at Addison and Aldrich roads, Howell, on Oct. 3. A Freehold Township High School senior was killed in the accident.
HOWELL — A township resident who was a senior at Freehold Township High School was killed in a two-car crash on Oct. 3.
Raynor Russell Jordan, 17, of East Fourth Street, died at Jersey Shore Medi-cal Center, Neptune, as the result of a motor vehicle accident that occurred at the intersection of Aldrich and Addison roads.
According to Howell Police Department Cpl. Joseph Fiore, Jordan was driving a 1997 Ford Taurus on Addison Road at about 3:15 p.m. Fiore said police believe the accident was a result of Jordan turning left onto Aldrich Road too quickly at the stop sign at Addison Road. His vehicle was struck by a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe being driven by Joseph Crouchman, 38, of Roebling. Crouchman was traveling west on Aldrich Road at the time of the accident.
The vehicle Jordan was driving was registered to his uncle, Edward Germadnig.
Fiore confirmed reports that Jordan had two 17-year-old male passengers in his vehicle at the time of the accident. Neither passenger was injured, according to Fiore.
According to Teresa Rafferty, public information coordinator for the Freehold Regional High School District, Jordan was an excellent student who was well liked by peers and faculty members.
"He was a member of the National Honor Society and was headed for college," Rafferty said. "He had plans to study engineering."
Jordan had a strong interest in art and had taken courses in that subject throughout his four years in high school, she said.
"He was the kind of a kid that a teacher could rely on for help," Rafferty added. "With college board scores of 1350, he was determined to succeed. His teacher recommendations on his college applications just said one nice thing after another. Their comments were always glowing."
Jordan is survived by his father, Rusty, and his mother, Erika Jordan, both of Howell; his maternal grandmother, Frieda Germadnig of Howell; and aunts, uncles and cousins. A funeral service was held Monday.
Howell Patrolman Peter Sukola and Sgt. David Flaherty are continuing to investigate the accident.
Greater Media Newspapers staff writers Kathy Baratta and Dave Benjamin contributed to this story.