PLUMSTED: 2-vehicle crash kills three area residents

by Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
   PLUMSTED — A head-on collision between a van and a pickup truck on Route 539 claimed the lives of three area residents.
   According to police reports, it appears neither driver applied their vehicle’s brakes before the accident on a wet road March 27.
   Witnesses told police that Nelson Yales-Lopez, 24, of Trenton, was driving in the northbound lane at about 1:20 p.m. when he suddenly swerved into the southbound lane and struck an oncoming van occupied by husband and wife Wolfgang and Lois Zehe of Jamesburg.
   Ms. Zehe and Mr. Yales-Lopez were pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Zehe, 66, was taken to the Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he died later that day.
   Police say the speedometer of Mr. Yales-Lopez’s pickup truck was still showing 45 mph when they arrived at the scene. Witnesses told police that Mr. Zehe did not hit the brakes before the collision with Mr. Yales-Lopez’s vehicle.
   Police said the accident occurred in a 50-mph zone and that all three people were wearing seat belts.
   Police said, based on the damage, they believe that Mr. Yales-Lopez was traveling at about 45 mph at the time of the crash. A witness who was traveling behind the pickup truck said that it was traveling at about the posted speed limit before the crash.
   Police said Ms. Zehe was likely killed by a metal box in the van that flew forward from the impact and struck her in the back of the head.