

NEWARK — The Dodge Neon looked liked a toy that a child had gotten angry with, neighbors say. One neighborhood resident compared it to an accordion.

Police say that crumpled car carried 10 passengers, including a mother and her 1- and 2-year old children who are now being treated for life threatening injuries after the Neon jumped the curb on Irvine Turner Boulevard in Newark and smashed into a tree.

The accident, which trapped and injured 10 people in the car, occurred at 1:30 this morning, police spokesman Sgt. Ronald Glover said. The three victims were transported by University Hospital EMS to the University Hospital.

Newark firefighters responded to the scene and removed the injured victims from the wreckage, police said.

Janette McCoy lives across the street from the accident and heard the cries for help.

"It looked like holy hell," she said.

McCoy said passengers from the car were running around the block banging on doors and screaming for help.

"When I heard the ambulance, that was the best sound I could have heard," McCoy said.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the crash and no further details were immediately available.

Star-Ledger staff writer Dan Goldberg contributed to this report.