Still No Answers in Pine Beach Crash That Killed Three

There won't be any speedy determination about the cause of the last week, the spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

It was a week ago today that a car driven by Matthew R. Budesa, 20, struck the east wall of the Pine Beach Elementary School with such force that it ripped a six-by-six hole in the school's media center and crushed the engine section of the car.

Budesa, the son of Pine Beach Councilman Robert Budesa, Kimberly Van Gorden, 20, of Beachwood, and Matthew Witzgall, 21, of Toms River, all died at the scene of multiple traumatic injuries, authorities have said.

Investigators are waiting for the results of the accident reconstruction, any possible mechanical problems with the car, and toxicological tests on the three victims, said Michael Mohel, deputy chief of detectives for the Prosecutor's Office.

"It's still an ongoing investigation," he said Thursday afternoon. "I have no information at this point. I'm precluded from commenting until the investigation is over. We have reports we are waiting on."

Authorities believe the 2011 Hyundai Accent barreled down Merion Avenue sometime in the early morning darkness at a high rate of speed and crashed head-on into the elementary school's brick wall. The roadway leads directly into the east parking lot at the school.

There were no skid marks at the scene and none of the car's occupants were wearing seat belts, Pine Beach Police Chief John Sgro has said..

"It was definitely at a high rate of speed," Sgro has said. "It blew a hole through the school."

The accident happened some time after 4:30 a.m., when a Pine Beach police officer had made a routine check of the school grounds. It was called in at 6:48 a.m, when an employee arriving for work at the school discovered the car, Sgro has said.

The accident is under investigation by the county Vehicular Homicide Unit and the Fatal Accident Support Team.

for all three victims were held earlier this week.