Mount Laurel—The Burlington County community is grieving after the sudden death of Varlee Kamara of Newark, a young man whose life was cut short Thursday night in a violent crash on the New Jersey Turnpike.
State police say the crash happened just before 9 p.m. in Mount Laurel Township. Kamara was driving southbound when, for reasons still unknown, his car crossed the median and entered the northbound lanes.
Moments later, his vehicle slammed into a box truck coming the opposite way. The impact was devastating. Kamara suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the box truck survived and was treated for minor injuries. That driver’s name has not been released, and authorities have not said whether any charges are expected.
News of Kamara’s death spread quickly through Burlington County and Newark. Friends and relatives described him as full of life, with plans ahead of him and people who depended on his smile, his voice, and his presence.
Police continue to investigate what caused the vehicle to cross lanes. They are reviewing the scene and gathering evidence, but answers may take time.
For now, the focus is not on how the crash happened, but on who Varlee Kamara was. He was a son, a friend, and a young man whose life mattered deeply to many.
His death leaves a quiet ache in the community. On a busy stretch of highway meant to carry people home, one family instead received the news no one is ever ready to hear.
