Two more teens killed in early morning crash Ten die in five wrecks over the last 13 months. Longtime pals worked together; went to P'burg. Monday, February 12, 2007 • By BEVIN MILAVSKY • The Express-Times LOPATCONG TWP. | Two friends who had been inseparable since middle school were killed early Sunday morning when their vehicle split in half after striking two utility poles on Route 519. Francis G. "Pring" Thiel, 18, of the 400 block of Congress Street, Phillipsburg, and his passenger, Edward J. McNally, 19, of Route 519, Bloomsbury, were pronounced dead at the site of the 1:30 a.m. crash. It's the fifth wreck in the last 13 months in which two young people died. Township police said Thiel was driving south on Route 519, also known as Uniontown Road, near mile marker 31 when for an unknown reason, he crossed the northbound lane and struck a utility pole. Police said the green Volkswagen Jetta broke in half after hitting the pole just behind the driver's side door. The front of the vehicle, in which the two men were still secured in seat belts, traveled about 60 yards south and struck a second utility pole on the passenger side door. Thiel and McNally were partially ejected, police said. McNally graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 2006 and Thiel was a senior this year. His oldest brother, Adam Thiel, 33, said his brother had dedicated himself to academics and made the honor roll last semester. "One of the things that Mom and Dad here have been so proud of was his goal was no matter what to finish high school," he said. Thiel said his brother, the youngest of four boys, wanted to attend Universal Technical Institute, which has a campus in Exton, Pa., to continue fostering his love of working on bicycles and cars. "That's literally our earliest memory of him," Thiel said, recalling his brother armed with tools working on his BMX bicycle or more recently, the Volkswagen. Francis Thiel's bedroom was plastered with hundreds of BMX pictures depicting jumps, and his brother said Francis spent much of his free time reconstructing bicycles or creating trails. "If he was on his BMX bike, he was at peace," Thiel said. His nickname, Pring, which was how he was known to family and friends, was bestowed upon him years ago by a neighbor who was an immigrant and could not pronounce Frank. Adam Thiel recalled his brother's distinct laugh that sparked mirth in those around him. But he also described his brother as gentle. "If there was a group of guys, he was the non-controversial one," he said. "He was a lover, not a fighter." When he was not in school or tinkering with bicycles or cars, he worked at Linens 'n Things, with McNally, Thiel said. "They would go from being grease monkeys to folding white cotton towels, 600-thread-count sheets," he said. Thiel said McNally was like another member of the family. "They were like glue," Thiel said. "It was very common for Edward to wake up, come upstairs from the basement and have some breakfast." He said McNally shared his brother's gentle spirit but was his own person, described by many as jovial. A message left at McNally's family's home was not returned Sunday night. Thiel and McNally were returning from another friend's house when the crash occurred. But family members do not yet have details on what led Thiel to veer off a road he had traveled often. Police said speed may have been a factor in the crash. The speed limit for that stretch of road is 50 miles per hour. Warren County Medical Examiner Isidore Mihalakis said autopsies are scheduled for today. Police said toxicology tests are needed to determine if drugs or alcohol were a factor. Phillipsburg School District Superintendent Gordon Pethick, who learned of the deaths late Sunday night, said a faculty meeting would be called this morning to organize counselors to be on hand throughout the day. "Unfortunately we're getting very good at this process. There are just way too many of these accidents," he said. "We will do everything we can to help the students and faculty and even the families if there's anything they need." Reporter Bevin Milavsky can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at bmilavsky@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used by NJ.com with permission.