CBS2 Exclusive Video: Car Catapults Off NJ Turnpike In Linden, 1 Killed

LINDEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A driver on the New Jersey Turnpike in Linden somehow catapulted off the roadway and landed dozens of feet away in a parking lot Wednesday morning.

The incident took place at around just before 11 a.m., as Jonathan A. Donan, 22, of Jersey City, drove a 2010 Honda Civic south in the left lane of the turnpike at milepost 97.5. In the car with him were Christian Donan, 14; Jose Cruz, 18; and Richard Donan, 19, also all of Jersey City, according to New Jersey State Police.

State police believe Jonathan Donan lost control of the vehicle and passed over the southbound lanes, and then ran off the right side of the road. State police said he continued over a grass embankment, struck a utility pole and a fence, and finally hit four parked cars in the parking lot of a food distribution company along Tremley Road.

"He hit an embankment, flew up in the air, hit a pole that's before my car, flew over my car and about three more cars before it came down on the ground," truck driver Luis told WCBS 880's Levon Putney.

Ronel Garner told CBS2's Valerie Castro that he saw first hand what was captured on surveillance footage.

"I was right there, the car came in and the dirt was popping up, it jumped over, hit the car," Garner said.

The overturned vehicle remained resting on its roof after the crash. Another parked vehicle had its right side almost completely caved in. A third vehicle sustained damage to its hood.

Garner works nearby and said he watched as Cruz was ejected from the car.

"It's a tragedy. That's, I thought it was tragic. It's crazy," he said.

Medical equipment was left behind behind where the man was treated by emergency crews. The fence the car crashed through was left in shambles.

Once the crash was over, Garner said someone who had been inside the car was up and staggering around the wreckage.

"I don't know if he was the driver, but he was walking around. He had blood on his forehead, screaming and looking for his brother, saying, 'Where's my brother? Where's my brother?'" he said.

Luis also said he saw the driver and front-seat passenger walking around after the crash. But state police confirmed that the passengers in the backseat -- Cruz and Richard Donan -- were ejected from the vehicle.

Cruz and Richard Donan were both airlifted to University Hospital in Newark, state police said. Cruz was pronounced dead at the hospital at 11:59 a.m., while Richard Donan suffered life-threatening injuries and remained in critical condition late Wednesday, state police said.

Christian Donan suffered moderate injuries, and his condition was stable at University Hospital late Wednesday, state police said. Driver Jonathan Donan was treated and released from the same hospital, state police said.

Luis said one of the victims landed near the car; the other was thrown against a fence pole about 40 feet away, Putney reported.

The New Jersey Turnpike was open following the crash, though there is a possibility state police may close some lanes as part of their investigation, CBS2's Jim Smith reported.