4 Mainland football players killed in crash

An SUV carrying eight players from a South Jersey high school football team overturned on a Garden State Parkway ramp Saturday, killing four of the teens and injuring the others, police said.

Three of the victims - from Northfield, Linwood and Somers Point - died at the scene after the 2002 Ford Explorer careened off the southbound ramp at Exit 38A near Atlantic City. The fourth teen died at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center-City Division in Atlantic City.

State Police Sgt. Julian Castellanos said the victims, who ranged in age from 15 to 17, were teammates at Mainland Regional High School in Linwood.

He declined to release their names because their relatives had not all been notified.

Castellanos said that the SUV overturned "multiple times" and that one of the teens was ejected and struck a passing vehicle. He said the investigation into what caused the crash was continuing.

Mainland football coach Bob Coffey was unavailable for comment. Mainland assistant coach Brian Beebe declined comment and said that Coffey might address the media on Sunday.

Oakcrest coach Chuck Smith, a former assistant coach at Mainland, said that a Mainland assistant coach told him that the players in the accident had just left practice and were on their way to eat, and that other players in other vehicles witnessed the accident.

Smith said it was a Mainland tradition for players to go out to eat together after practice, usually at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Mainland was scheduled to scrimmage St. Joseph of Hammonton on Monday, but that event has been canceled, according to St. Joseph coach Paul Sacco.

Sacco said he had "flashbacks" when he heard the news of the accident, as his program was devastated when senior Mark Bresani was killed in an automobile accident during the 2003 season.

"I know Coach Coffey and his wife are religious people and they will help those kids get through this," said Sacco, who said he spoke with Coffey on Saturday. "It's just going to be so very, very tough for the next days and weeks and months."

The accident stopped traffic on the heavily traveled roadway and left a backup that stretched for 10 miles.

Within hours of the crash, friends and other teens flooded Facebook sites with tributes and messages.

"No matter how strong the rivalry is . . . Those kids will still be missed by all," said one posting by a teen from a rival school.