Fire Rescue News - 9-year-old Hammonton boy killed in three-car crash in Hamilton Township

Posted: Monday, April 11, 2011 7:30 am | Updated: 8:18 am, Mon Apr 11, 2011.

By THOMAS BARLAS Staff Writer pressofAtlanticCity.com

A 9-year-old Hammonton boy died Sunday from injuries suffered in a three-car crash on Cologne Avenue, Hamilton Township police said.

Ryan Schleyer was pronounced dead at the scene by authorities after the 1 p.m. accident that occurred in front of....Continue Reading

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the Cologne Volunteer Fire Company's headquarters, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel said in a statement.

The headquarters are located at 2870 Cologne Avenue.

An autopsy is scheduled for 9 a.m. today.

William Liepe, 58, of Cologne Avenue, was heading south on Cologne in his Ford Explorer when he rear-ended a car driven by Max Guzman, 35. Guzman was trying to turn left off Cologne to get to some athletic fields behind the firehouse, Housel said.

The impact forced Guzman's Honda Accord into the northbound lane of Cologne Avenue, striking a Cadillac Escalade driven by Rosa Vazquez, 38, of Egg Harbor Township, Housel said.

Schleyer was sitting in the back seat of Guzman's car and was wearing a seat belt, Housel said.

Guzman was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, in Atlantic City. His 11-year-old son, also named Max Guzman, who was in the front seat of the Honda, was flown to Cooper University Hospital in Camden for what Housel said were serious injuries.

Vazquez's daughter, 15-year-old Jalyssa Hitchens, who was sitting in the front seat of the Escalade, complained of shoulder pain as a result of the crash. Vazquez's 2-year-old son, who was in the back seat, was not admitted to a hospital. Housel did not provide the child's name. Vazquez's 71-year-old mother, also named Rosa Vazquez, of Pleasantville, who was also in the back seat, suffered "cardiac issues," Housel said.

The incident remains under investigation. No charges have been filed, Housel said.

Contact Thomas Barlas: 609-226-9197 TBarlas@pressofac.com