Fire Destroys Mt. Holly Home

A southern New Jersey home was destroyed by fire Saturday morning after being hit by an out of control car.

The accident happened shortly after 4 a.m., when a car carrying four teenagers crashed through a fence on Shreve Street, striking the home and damaging a natural gas line.

Investigators believed heat from the car's engine caused the blaze.

"That was the ignition source," Fire Marshal Robert Rose said. "The gas ignited, eventually burning the rest of the house."

The home's owners were sleeping when the sound of the accident woke them. They escaped as the fire erupted. The four boys in the car received minor injuries.

Nearly 100 firefighters fought the two-alarm blaze.

Authorities believed speed and alcohol were contributing factors to the accident. Motor vehicle and criminal charges were possible.

No other homes in the neighborhood were affected.

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