At least 1 person killed, multiple others hurt in early morning crash in Old Bridge, New Jersey

OLD BRIDGE, N.J. -- A deadly crash in New Jersey is now being investigated. 

It happened early Wednesday morning in Old Bridge along Route 9. 

CBS2's Kevin Rincon was there as three cars were towed away from the scene. 

It was at the intersection of Spring Valley Road and U.S. Route 9 that two cars collided. The impact of the crash makes it clear speed was certainly a factor.

The attorney general's office says cops tried to pull over one of the cars involved in the crash after it came up in connection with an attempted car theft in Marlboro.

The driver did not stop, and a chase ensued.

Officials say the driver struck "unrelated civilian vehicles."

One of the cars, a blue Subaru, was found next to trees just off the side of the road. Another car, a white Honda, was just a few feet away in a ditch. It burst into flames after the wreck and was left mangled. A third car was hit after the initial collision.

One person was killed and three others were injured.

The investigation caused the southbound lanes of the highway to be closed for nearly eight hours. 

Once traffic opened back up, family members came to see the aftermath. Rincon spoke with some of them who were clearly emotional. They told him the victims were kids, and like so many are now left wondering how did this happen.