Husband, Wife Killed After Vehicle Crashes Into South Jersey Home, Catches Fire

A routine Saturday evening in Mullica Hill turned tragic when an SUV crashed into a home, killing a husband and wife and setting off a fire that consumed part of the house.The crash happened on Banff Drive, a normally quiet residential street in South Jersey. According to police, the vehicle suddenly accelerated for unknown reasons, struck a curb, crossed two neighboring yards, and slammed directly into a home.

The SUV crashed into the living room, where a fire quickly ignited and spread through much of the residence. Emergency responders rushed to the scene as flames engulfed both the vehicle and the home. Several people were inside the house at the time, heightening fears of further casualties.

Authorities identified the victims as 72-year-old Thomas Hengel and his wife, 61-year-old Lisa Hengel. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Police confirmed that the occupants of the home were safely evacuated and were not injured.

Thomas Hengel was a well-known and respected sports coach at Clearview High School, according to reporting by NJ.com, making the loss especially painful for the local community. Investigators say it is still unclear why the vehicle accelerated before the crash. The full extent of the damage to the home has not yet been released. The incident remains under investigation by the Harrison Township Police Department.