A group of reckless teenagers from New Jersey reportedly took a luxury SUV valued at $220,000 for a joyride, which tragically ended with a head-on collision that killed a cherished grandmother and her long-time partner.
The four teens allegedly stole a 2024 Mercedes-Benz G Wagon early Saturday morning. Their joyride turned disastrous when they crashed into a Hyundai sedan while trying to escape law enforcement shortly before 8 a.m., according to reports.
The group was speeding on the wrong side of the road when they collided with the sedan near Route 50 and Third Street in Mays Landing, sending it crashing into a gas station, as stated by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
The collision resulted in the deaths of the sedan’s two occupants, 54-year-old Robert Barr, Jr. and 67-year-old Alice Stilwell, both from Egg Harbor Township. Officials later noted that Stilwell was a beloved mother and grandmother, and Barr was her longtime companion, as highlighted in a GoFundMe campaign set up for funeral expenses.
Despite the severity of the crash, the teens managed to escape the wreck with minor injuries and tried to flee the scene but were apprehended by the authorities shortly after.
Police had been pursuing the stolen G Wagon since around 3:40 a.m. in Longport after it sped past a nearby officer. Cops in Hamilton Township then spotted the vehicle again around 7:45 a.m., although they lost track of it just minutes before the crash occurred.
Nayshaun Brown, 18, along with the other three minors, faces charges of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, joyriding, and evading police following the fatal incident, according to official records.
It’s still uncertain who was driving at the time of the crash. Information about a legal representation for Brown and the other teens has not been disclosed.
