OLD BRIDGE — A 21-year-old man and his 60-year-old father were killed Saturday night in an electrical fire that rapidly engulfed their two-story house.
Both the son, Nicholas Lee, who authorities said was autistic, and the father, Peter Lee, who neighbors said was partially paralyzed by a stroke several years ago, were found dead on the second floor of the house.
According to Lt. Robert Moser, firefighters from the Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Department responded to a 7:40 p.m. call from Peter Lee, who reported the fire and said it had started in the wall of the master bedroom on the second floor. The police dispatcher advised Lee to evacuate immediately.
Four people were inside the home on West Alton Place, off Throckmorton Lane, when the fire started. A woman who authorities believe is Nicolas Lee’s mother and another son were taken to Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge division. The extent of their injuries was not known.
Police Officer Aaron Matikonis and Fire Chief Kenneth Gibson were the first on the scene, and were assisted by firefighters from East Brunswick, Spotswood and Monroe.
The genesis of the fire remains unclear, except that it was electrical and there are no suspicious circumstances, Moser said.
The fire is under investigation by Detective Michael Blahota and Detective Ken Flynn of the Old Bridge Police Department, as well as the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
— Lauren Ciraulo