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Melinda S. Hart died Tuesday at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, Gloucester Township police said on Monday, March 21.
Hart was a passenger in a car that was hit head-on about 2 p.m. on Feb. 24 on the Black Horse Pike near Landing Road.
The Gloucester Township Police Department Serious Crash Investigation Team (SCIT) conducted an investigation into the cause of the crash. It determined that the driver of a gray Chevrolet Traverse, Elizabeth V. McDonel, 47, of Blackwood was traveling northbound in the southbound lane, causing vehicles traveling southbound to swerve out of the way to avoid a collision, police said.
After almost striking several vehicles, McDonel continued traveling in the wrong direction where she struck a white Nissan Murano head-on causing significant, disabling damage to both vehicles, police said.
All five occupants of the Nissan Murano, including Hart, were taken to Cooper Medical Center with serious injuries.
The investigation revealed McDonel was intoxicated at the time of the crash therefore she was criminally charged with five counts of assault by auto, driving while intoxicated several motor vehicle offenses, police said.
After consultation with the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, McDonel was additionally charged with death by automobile, police said.
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