Fiery Crash in West Atlantic City, NJ, Results in Multiple Deaths

Law enforcement sources, Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo and Atlantic City Councilman George Tibbitt have all confirmed that a fiery car crash has occurred in West Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The crash occurred on the Black Horse Pike at approximately 8:18 p.m., on Friday, July 26, 2024.

I have witnessed graphic video that is posted on Facebook, that out of respect for the families involved, we will not post here.

Giralo wrote the following on Facebook about this tragic incident:

Atlantic County/West Atlantic City/8029 Black Horse Pike/Major accident - Multi vehicle accident with DOA - EMS Task Force Activated, wrote Giralo.

Tibbitt wrote, “It's real bad children involved, definitely take a minute and say a prayer for all of them.”

Dozens of other people have posted heart-felt comments and offered their thoughts and prayers.

Scan AtlanticCity (is in West Atlantic City, New Jersey) posted the following photo on their Facebook Page, (note that a graphic section is blurred out).

The exact number of lives taken during this tragic car crash has not as yet been confirmed.

The area was still closed to traffic in the 11:00 p.m. hour on Friday, July 26, 2024.

Multiple vehicles appear to be involved.

We offer our deepest thoughts and prayers to all of the families affected by this tragic accident.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Saturday, July 27, 2024, 8:32 a.m.

Captain Cherie Burgan, from the Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey Police Department has released the following facts surrounding last night’s multiple car crash.

The issues here are so tragic and sensitive in nature that we are publishing all of Captain Burgan’s public comments as follows:

On Friday, July 26th, 2024 at approximately 8:18PM the Egg Harbor Township Police Department responded to US Highway 40 (Black Horse Pike) in front of the Oh St. Joseph Hotel, in the West Atlantic City section of the township, for a motor vehicle crash. A 2017 silver Nissan Sentra was driving westbound on the Black Horse Pike when it entered into the eastbound, oncoming lanes of travel and struck a 2018 Kia Forte in a head-on collision. The force of the impact pushed the Kia Forte backwards, where it struck by a 2020 red Nissan Sentra which was also eastbound on the Black Horse Pike. The 2020 red Nissan Sentra went off the roadway to the left, coming to rest on the westbound side of the roadway. The Kia Forte came to rest in the marsh area along the eastbound side of the roadway. The 2017 silver Nissan Sentra came to rest in the eastbound lanes of travel facing westbound. A fourth vehicle, a 2019 silver Toyota Yaris, was struck by debris thrown from one of the vehicles as well. After the head-on collision, the 2017 silver Nissan Sentra started to catch fire. There were multiple witnesses and other passing motorists who then stopped and assisted in dragging the occupants of the Nissan out of the vehicle before it completely engulfed in flames. We are thankful for those individuals who quickly and selflessly acted. As a result of the crash, the driver of the Kia Forte (identified as 21-year-old Escarlin Suriel of Atlantic City) lost his life in the crash. An occupant of the 2017 silver Nissan Sentra (identified as 22-year-old Gabriella Constantino of Pleasantville) also succumbed to injuries at the crash scene. Two juvenile passengers (one male and one female) in the 2017 silver Nissan Sentra are listed as in critical condition; the male passenger was transported to AtlantiCare City Division and the female was flown to Cooper Hospital. A male passenger in the same vehicle (identified as 25-year-old Kenneth Jones of Pleasantville) was transported to City Division with serious injuries. A male passenger in the Kia Forte (identified as 27 year-old Francesco Nin Ferreras of Atlantic City) was transported to AtlantiCare City Division with serious injuries. Two occupants of the 2020 red Nissan Sentra were transported to City Division with minor injuries. There was one other male transported to the hospital, who assisted with extricating the occupants of the 2017 silver Nissan Sentra. His injury status is unknown at this time. The driver of the fourth vehicle, the 2019 Toyota, was not injured in the crash. Assisting at the crash scene was the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office, Egg Harbor Township EMS, Atlantic City EMS, AtlantiCare Medics, West Atlantic City Fire Department, Bargaintown Fire Department, Atlantic City PD, Pleasantville PD, A-1 Towing and the NJDOT Traffic Incident Response Team. This was treated as a multiple casualty event with multiple agencies assisting the police department. The crash is being investigated by Sergeant Ed Stearns, Officer Robert Moran, Officer Nick Poletis, Officer Nathan Lahr and Officer Kevin Brady of the EHT Police Traffic Safety Unit. The Black Horse Pike was detoured for approximately 7.5 hours while the crash was being investigated. This crash is still under active investigation at this time, in conjunction with the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office, said Captain Burgan.

Read More: West Atlantic City, NJ, Fiery Crash Victim Was 8 Months Pregnant

SOURCES: Law enforcement sources, Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo, Atlantic City Councilman George Tibbitt & Captain Cherie Burgan, Egg Harbor Township Police Department.