Leominster, N.J : Two Leominster men among dead in N.J. crash Thursday on July 3, 2014

Two Leominster men were killed along with a New Jersey woman in an early-morning car crash Thursday that investigators say was a drunk-driving incident.

According to a statement released by the office of Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari, Miguel A. Barreto Jr., 34, of Leominster, was driving eastbound on Route 33 in North Bergen, N.J., in a white Mercedes station wagon. In the vehicle with him was Hector G. Perez, 37, also of Leominister, and Margarita Santiago, 32, of Passaic, N.J.

According to The Record, a north Jersey newspaper, Barreto's sister said her brother borrowed the car from his mother and drove to New Jersey to pick up Santiago, who is his cousin. The intention was to bring her back to Massachusetts to meet his two daughters.

Around 5:40 a.m. Barreto was on a ramp where Route 3 East merges into Route 495 when he struck a guardrail. The vehicle became airborne, landed on the driver's side and slid about 153 feet before it hit a light pole and broke apart.

A preliminary test by authorities showed Barreto was drunk at the time of their deaths. Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.

Sheriff's Department investigators also reported finding cocaine, marijuana, pain medication and prescription bottles of sleeping pills in the car.

Source :
2 Leominster men among dead in N.J. crash