By Wayne Browne
BCT staff writer

MOUNT LAUREL -- Two teen-agers, including the son of the township fire chief, were killed and two others were seriously injured Saturday night in a one-car accident on Fostertown Road near Route 38, township police said.

Two passengers in the car, 16-year-old William Dukes Jr., and Andrew Rubel, 16, of West Atlantic Avenue, Clementon, died as a result of the accident.

Dukes is the son of Mount Laurel Fire Chief William D. (Bill) Dukes Sr. and Gerri Dukes of Ramblewood Parkway.

Police said a 1992 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, driven by township resident Justin Ramsden, 17, was traveling south on Fostertown Road when it skidded, crossed into the northbound lane, left the road and struck two trees about 10:15 p.m.

Dukes was pronounced dead at the scene by the Burlington County Medical Examiners Office and Rubel died later after being transported to Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center in Camden.

Ramsden and Mount Laurel resident Anna Marie Pinkavitch, 16, a front seat passenger in the car, were transported to the Cooper trauma unit in serious condition.

Police blocked off Fostertown Road from Ark Road to Route 38 and used the fire department's light trucks to illuminate the scene. Several rescue vehicles were called to the crash site.

Police said it did not appear that alcohol or drugs were involved in the accident, which remains under investigation.

In addition to his parents, William Dukes Jr. is survived by a sister, Melisa.

The viewing for Dukes will be held tomorrow from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Costantino Funeral Home, 231 W. White Horse Pike in Berlin. A second viewing will be held Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. at St. John Neumann Roman Catholic Church, 560 Walton Ave., Mount Laurel, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m.

Burlington County Times
Monday, June 14, 1999