By Amy Batista, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — Two cars collided at the intersection of Old Trenton Road and Princeton-Hightstown Road early Saturday morning, leaving four injured including a 12-year-old girl, according to the East Windsor Police Department.
Mehri Vesali, 69, of East Windsor, was driving a beige 2010 Toyota Rav 4 and west on Princeton-Hightstown Road in the right lane and Linda Preville-Koken, 55, of Monroe, was driving a silver 2010 GMC Acadia south on Old Trenton Road in the left lane when the vehicles crashed in the intersection at 8 a.m., according to police.
After the initial impact, Ms. Preville-Koken struck a traffic signal pole located on the southwest corner of the intersection, East Windsor Township Police Lt. Christopher Jackson said.
Ms. Vesali and her front seat passenger Paraveneh Ghodsi, of Tehachapi, California, sustained minor injuries and were transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, according to Lt. Jackson.
Ms. Preville-Koken and her front seat passenger, a 12-year-old girl from Monroe who police did not identify, were also transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton.
“There was entrapment,” Lt. Jackson said. “The driver and juvenile passenger required assistance from fire department personnel to exit their vehicle.”
East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Chief James J. McCann said East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 and Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1 “worked together with extrication tools to remove the doors and freed them quickly.” East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2 provided protection with a charged hand-line if needed and other operational support, he added.
“The three fire companies did an outstanding job of teamwork to quickly and efficiently extricate the injured from the vehicle,” Chief McCann said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured for a speedy recovery.”
Ms. Preville-Koken sustained an arm and a head injury and the juvenile passenger sustained a head injury, Lt. Jackson said.
The East Windsor Police Department along with the East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2, Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1, East Windsor Volunteer Rescue Squad No. 1, Plainsboro Rescue Squad, West Windsor Emergency Services and Cranbury Rescue Squad responded to the scene to assist with the accident.
“The intersection was partially closed while this accident was investigated,” Lt. Jackson said.
He said that the officers remained on scene for approximately three hours investigating the crash during which time traffic was affected to varying degrees.
“The accident remains under investigation and no summonses have been issued at this time,” he said.
The Traffic Safety Unit of the East Windsor Township Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Serious Collision Response Team are investigating the incident.
