By Eugene Paik

DENVILLE – A 17-year-old Dover boy involved in a single-car crash on July 4 died today from serious head injuries, police said.

The teen, whose name was not released, had been a passenger in the rear seat of the car when driver Jorge Ocampo-Arenas, 18, of Wharton, lost control of the vehicle on Palmer Road and smashed it into a tree.

Ocampo-Arenas was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other passengers were taken to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where one remained in serious condition today. The Dover teen was not wearing a seat belt, police said.

Denville Police Chief Christopher Wagner said that Ocampo-Arenas had been driving on a Graduated Driver License, which limited the hours he could drive and the amount of passengers allowed in the vehicle.

Police believe that excessive speed played a role in the crash, although an investigation is ongoing.