An unlicensed 15-year-old from New York has been charged in connection with a fatal crash on the Palisades Interstate Parkway in February, authorities announced.
The crash occurred around 5:58 a.m. on Feb. 28 in the southbound lanes near Alpine, close to the New York state line. According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, a 2025 Nissan Rogue carrying five people collided with a 2019 Honda CR-V, which had only the driver inside.
Investigators determined that the Nissan was being driven by the 15-year-old, who was unlicensed at the time. Authorities said the teen was speeding and lost control of the vehicle, leading to the crash.
A 16-year-old passenger in the Nissan was fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene. The other occupants of the Nissan, including the driver, were transported to a hospital with injuries ranging from minor to serious. The driver of the Honda was uninjured.
On Monday, the teenage driver was taken into custody and charged with juvenile delinquency. The charges include vehicular homicide, operating a motor vehicle without a license resulting in a fatal accident, operating a motor vehicle without a license resulting in serious bodily injury, assault by auto, and additional motor vehicle offenses.
The teen has been released to home confinement under the supervision of a parent or guardian while awaiting further proceedings in Bergen County Superior Court’s Family Division.
