HTML5 3 Die as Packed Van Smashes Into Tree

Two people died and several others were trapped after the van they were in slammed into a tree along a South Jersey road Tuesday morning.

The crash slowed traffic along Route 55 northbound at mile-marker 40 -- near the U.S. Route 40 interchange -- in Franklin Township, Gloucester County, around 6:30 a.m. The road remained closed for hours as crews investigated the deadly wreck.

As SkyForce10 hovered overhead a short time later, you could see crews freeing people from the badly-damaged van -- the front-end nearly completely push inward and a door flung off to the side -- and placing them on stretchers.

At least three medevac choppers landed at the scene to transport the victims. Cooper University Hospital in nearby Camden confirmed that doctors treated victims -- three in critical condition, one critical but stable. Another victim died upon arrival.

A sixth victim died at the scene, according to police.

The cause of the wreck remained under investigation Tuesday.

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