At a Glance
- An SUV slammed into a Mullica Hill home at 6:30 p.m. Saturday
- Two SUV occupants, a man and a woman, died at the scene
- The family inside escaped unharmed; fire that followed is out
- Why it matters: A routine evening turned tragic as investigators try to determine how the vehicle lost control in a quiet neighborhood
A quiet Saturday night on Banff Drive in Harrison Township ended in devastation when a Hyundai Palisade veered off the road, plowed through the front of a house, and claimed two lives, according to News Of Philadelphia‘s initial report.
The Crash
The impact occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m., Harrison Township Police Chief Ronald Cundey confirmed. The SUV drove straight into the first-floor living area, bringing down portions of the exterior wall and triggering a blaze that firefighters later extinguished.
Inside the vehicle at the time:
- A male driver
- A female passenger
Both were pronounced dead at the scene; their names are being withheld pending family notification.
Family Escapes Unscathed
The homeowners, who were elsewhere in the house when the crash happened, avoided injury entirely.
“By the grace of God, the family inside the house was not in the room that the car crashed into, and were able to escape safely unharmed,” Cundey said.
Fire crews quickly contained the flames that erupted after the collision, preventing further damage to adjacent properties.
Investigation Underway
Detectives have not yet determined why the driver lost control. Road conditions, mechanical failure, and driver error are all being examined, though early indications point to an accidental cause.
“It is unclear at this time why the car may have lost control, or why the driver lost control and crashed into the house,” Cundey said. “We’re at the very initial stages of the investigation. It’s a very tragic situation here tonight, and we’re just trying to figure it out.”
Residents on Banff Drive told News Of Philadelphia they heard a loud bang followed by sirens. Several neighbors rushed outside to find debris scattered across the lawn and the SUV partially embedded in the home’s brick facade.
Key Takeaways
- Two SUV occupants died after crashing into a Mullica Hill house at 6:30 p.m. Saturday
- The home’s residents escaped without injury despite significant structural damage
- A post-crash fire was extinguished; the house remains cordoned off for safety
- Police continue to investigate the cause and have asked witnesses to come forward
