A 4-year-old involved in a horrific four-vehicle crash on Route 10 has died, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, raising the death toll in the accident to four.
The boy and at least two of the adult victims were traveling in a van transporting children from the P.G. Chambers School, a nonprofit in the Cedar Knolls section of Hanover that teaches children with disabilities.
“Morris County authorities regret to report that on Friday afternoon, another occupant of the van, Yexsel Reyes Granados, 4, of Hackettstown, has died as a result of his injuries,” a spokeswoman for the prosecutor said in an email.
Yexsel “Dexsel” Reyes Granados, 4, of Hackettstown, “died as a result of his injuries” Friday from a crash on Route 10 in Randolph Thursday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor said in an email Friday afternoon.
The boy, also known as Dexsel, was mourned on a GoFundMe page created by Miguel Velásquez, his cousin.
“Despite the heroic efforts of the medical team at Morristown Hospital and the overwhelming prayers and support from the community, Yexsel succumbed to his injuries and is no longer with us,” Velásquez wrote. “Yexsel was just 4 years old — a sweet, courageous child whose light shone brightly despite the challenges he faced.
“He brought joy, love, and warmth to everyone around him, and his spirit touched many in our community. His loss is a tragedy beyond words. We ask everyone to continue holding Yexsel’s family in your hearts during this time of unimaginable pain.”
The crash, which also caused multiple injuries, closed Route 10 for almost seven hours on Thursday evening.
First responders were notified at about 3:20 p.m. of the accident at the highway’s the intersection with Millbrook Avenue. According to the prosecutor’s office, a school minivan with students and employees aboard was among the vehicles involved.
Bertha Castaneda, 67, of Dover; Diane Goetz, 71, of Randolph; and Maria Z. Figueroa, 58, of Wharton were also killed in the collision. Two injured children in the crash were brought to local hospitals for care and two adults were treated at the scene.
P.G. Chambers School responds
Additional details regarding the circumstances of the crash were unavailable, Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said earlier in the day. “I can say this is a horrible tragedy for the Morris County community and beyond. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives, and with those whose lives will undoubtedly be impacted by their loss. We ask that residents exercise discretion with what they share online, as this incident may be deeply traumatic for those in the community.”
Per Carroll’s office, Castaneda and Figueroa were traveling in a school vehicle registered to Alyft Transport LLC. The vehicle was transporting students for P.G. Chambers School.
We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of yesterday’s multi-vehicle accident on Route 10. Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives and all those impacted,” Patty Sly, the school’s executive director, said in an emailed statement.
According to Sly, transportation for students and the employees who staff it are arranged by the individual school districts where the students reside.
Launched in 1954 by a group of parents, P.G. Chambers was previously known as the Children’s Center for Therapy and Learning. The name was changed on the school’s 50th anniversary in honor of longtime board member and benefactor Patti Chambers.
“We are praying for the recovery of those injured and are providing support to the families of our students and the greater school community,” Sly said.
We’re very sad. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones,” added Hanover Committee Member Brian Cahill, a former member of the Hanover Board of Education. “P.G. Chambers has been a great member of our community for years now. It’s such a tragedy.”
The investigation, which is being conducted by the Randolph Police Department, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Morris County Sheriff’s Office CSI Unit, remains ongoing.
