Jackson Police say the Perth Amboy woman died after attempting an illegal pass that led to a head-on collision.
JACKSON, N.J. – A 43-year-old mother from Perth Amboy was killed Friday afternoon in a fiery head-on collision on Toms River Road after her van crossed the center line and struck a dump truck, police said. Authorities later identified the victim as Evelin Villanueva-Detejeda, a recent immigrant and mother of a three-month-old baby, who had no immediate family living in the United States.
The crash occurred on December 12 at approximately 2:01 p.m., when Jackson Township police officers responded to reports of a serious accident in the area of Osprey Place. When officers arrived, they found a white van that had collided with a dump truck and was engulfed in flames.
Police said Villanueva-Detejeda, the sole occupant of the van, was trapped inside and unresponsive. Officers attempted to pull her from the wreckage but were forced to retreat as the fire rapidly spread. Cassville Fire Department crews arrived within minutes and extinguished the flames, but Villanueva-Detejeda was pronounced dead at the scene. The dump truck driver was not injured.
Investigators cite illegal passing in deadly collision
According to the Jackson Township Police Department, witness statements and physical evidence suggest that Villanueva-Detejeda’s van had been traveling southbound when it crossed the double yellow line into oncoming traffic, striking the northbound dump truck head-on. The cause of the lane deviation remains under investigation, though no mechanical failures or other vehicles were involved.
Investigators said the force of the impact and subsequent fire destroyed both vehicles. The roadway was closed for several hours as police reconstructed the crash and cleared debris.
Community mourns mother seeking to return home
In the days following the crash, community members launched an online fundraising campaign to help repatriate Villanueva-Detejeda’s remains to her native Dominican Republic. The fundraiser describes her as a “young mother of a baby just three months old” who was working to build a life in New Jersey while supporting family overseas.
“Evelyn had no immediate family in the United States,” the appeal reads. “Her last wish is to return to the Dominican Republic, where her family hopes to bury her with love and dignity.”
Investigation ongoing as family seeks closure
Jackson police said the investigation into the crash remains active, and toxicology results are pending standard post-crash review. No charges are expected.
For now, friends and supporters in Perth Amboy and Jackson are focusing on helping Villanueva-Detejeda’s family bring her home, honoring a mother whose life was cut short just months after welcoming her child into the world.