Ocean County, NJ — December 12, 2025, Evelin Villanueva de Tejeda was killed in a dump truck accident at about 2 p.m. on Toms River Road south of Cassville.
Authorities said a van was heading south when it tried to pass another vehicle near Osprey Place, crashing head-on with a dump truck. Both vehicles caught fire after the collision.
Van driver Evelin Villanueva de Tejeda, 43, of Perth Amboy died at the scene of the Jackson Township crash, according to authorities.
The dump truck driver was not injured, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Ocean County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear that a van collided head-on with a dump truck while trying to pass another vehicle, their first thought is usually: “Why did the pass happen in the first place, and could this have been avoided?” That’s the right instinct. Getting to the truth of what happened, rather than assuming one side or the other is automatically to blame, is exactly what a proper investigation is supposed to do.
Right now, we know that the van attempted a pass on Toms River Road near Osprey Place and ended up in a fatal head-on collision. What we don’t know is critical: Was this a legal passing zone? Was the driver reacting to something ahead in the lane, like a slow or stopped vehicle, or did the driver misjudge the timing altogether? These unanswered questions make it impossible to understand how the crash really unfolded.
And while some may assume that the van driver is automatically at fault for crossing into oncoming traffic, experience shows that real answers often require more than the initial police narrative. For instance, could something in the road have forced the driver to make a split-second decision? Was the van driver avoiding another vehicle, debris or even reacting to an unexpected maneuver by the truck? Those possibilities won’t be clear without access to dash cam footage, roadway evidence or eyewitness testimony.
At the same time, there’s an investigative gap when it comes to the dump truck. We’re told the driver wasn’t injured, but that doesn’t mean the vehicle wasn’t involved in a way that deserves closer scrutiny. Depending on whether the truck was moving, slowing down, or even pulled partially into the opposing lane, entirely different questions arise. Does the truck have a front-facing camera? What does the engine control module say about the vehicle’s speed or braking at the moment of impact?
There’s also the matter of fire. Both vehicles reportedly caught fire after the crash. That introduces a whole separate line of inquiry; one that centers on the dump truck’s fuel system, containment features and fire suppression design, if any. In my experience, post-collision fires are rare unless there’s a significant breach in equipment or fuel containment.
Without this kind of deeper investigation — into both vehicles, both drivers and the scene itself — we’re left with more questions than answers. That’s not good enough when someone has lost their life and another party walks away without injury or apparent scrutiny.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s not clear whether the van’s attempted pass was legal or prompted by an unexpected hazard.
- Critical questions remain about the dump truck’s position, speed and behavior before the crash.
- Dash cam footage, ECM data and eyewitness accounts will be crucial to understanding what happened.
- The cause of the post-collision fire should be investigated as part of any accountability review.
- Initial reports rarely tell the full story; thorough investigation is the only way to determine responsibility.
call us 
Email Us 
Text us