Long-time Clearview track and cross country Tom Hengel and his wife Lisa were killed early Saturday evening when the SUV he was driving crashed into a home in the Mullica Hill section of Harrison Township, Gloucester County.
According to a news story on NJ.com, Hengel was driving a 2020 Hyundai Palisade SUV on Banff Avenue when he lost control of the vehicle, went over a curb and across two yards and into the house.
The vehicle and the home caught on fire. Nobody in the house was injured, although the home sustained significant damage. According to a story on Patch.com, firefighters reached the scene within four minutes.
Authorities have not determined the cause of the accident, according to the story.
Hengel began coaching at Clearview in 1981. He was induced into the Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fame in 2022 when the Pioneers won the state Group 3 XC title and placed 9th in the Meet of Champions. He coached Clearview to three consecutive state Group 2 outdoor track championships from 1990 through 1992 – 41-17 over neighboring Kingsway in 1990, 25-21 over Rahway in 1991 and 54-39 over Asbury Park in 1992.
According to Clearview’s web site, Hengel was currently a volunteer assistant XC and outdoor coach at Clearview.
According to a story in the Mantua News, Hengel in 2021 surpassed 100 combined seasons coaching basketball, cross country and track.
Hengel, 72, graduated from Clearview in 1972 and also graduated from Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, according to a story in the Courier-Post.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 