The crash claimed the life of 18-year-old Alexander Pannizzo, an aspiring criminal justice major at Stockton University in Galloway.
Authorities said a joint investigation with several law-enforcement agencies found that Panizzo and Magee, both of Millstone, were swatting at a bug inside the Camaro, causing it to drift into the other lane of traffic. (File photo).PLUMSTED -- A bug distracting two teenagers while they were driving to college last week is what led to a head-on fatal crash with a tractor-trailer, authorities said on Tuesday.
The crash on Nov. 9 claimed the life of 18-year-old Alexander Pannizzo, an aspiring criminal justice major at Stockton University in Galloway.
Pannizzo was a passenger in a 1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 driven by 19-year-old Dylan Magee when it drifted across the center line shortly before 10 a.m. on Route 539 in New Egypt and crashed head-on with a 2014 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, authorities said.
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Authorities said a joint investigation with several law-enforcement agencies found that Panizzo and Magee, both of Millstone, were swatting at a bug inside the Camaro, causing it to drift into the other lane of traffic.
Panizzo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Magee was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer, 73-year-old Norman Bird Jr., of Allentown, was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Authorities have said Panizzo and Magee were on their way to Stockton University where Panizzo, a freshman, was studying criminal justice.
Rocking that Stockton shirt
Posted by Xander Da Silva Pannizzo on Saturday, March 28, 2015
"We are saddened by the tragic loss of a student in our community," Thomas Gonzalez, vice president of student affairs, said in a statement after the crash. "We express our heartfelt sympathy to (Pannizzo's) family and friends."
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
