New Jersey State Police say the accident happened on the Garden State Parkway in Bloomfield in Essex County. The car was hit by the 40-foot tall tree just after 1 a.m.
The accident killed a 42-year-old Joel Baudouin of Arlington, Mass., and Boston resident Marie Vernet, who was 70. Both died at the scene when the tree crushed their car.
Thirteen-year-old Rachele Baudouin and 8-year-old Cassies Baudouin were sitting in the back seat. Rachele broke her right leg. Her sister suffered minor injuries.
Police are trying to determine why the tree fell.
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