In a life that has been immortalized on film and garnered a Nobel Prize, John Nash is the highly respected mathematician traveling with his wife, Alicia, in a taxi in New Jersey that lost control and crashed Saturday afternoon. John and Alicia were both killed in the accident.

Sgt. Gregory Williams of the New Jersey state police force told USA Today that the taxi was in the left lane on the New Jersey turnpike heading south when the taxi lost control in an attempt to pass another motorist. The taxi ended up hitting a guardrail and another vehicle, which ejected both of the passengers. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.

The taxi driver was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and is not expected to be charged in the incident.

The couple lived in Princeton, New Jersey, where Nash was a senior mathematician at Princeton University. In 1994, at the age of 86, Nash received the Nobel Prize for Economics alongside Alicia, who cared for him throughout their life together while he was enduring mental illness from schizophrenia.

"John's remarkable achievements inspired generations of mathematicians, economists and scientists who were influenced by his brilliant, groundbreaking work in game theory," said Christopher Eisgruber, president at Princeton University. "The story of his life with Alicia moved millions of readers and moviegoers who marveled at their courage in the face of daunting challenges."

His life was immortalized in the 2001 film "A Beautiful Mind" by Ron Howard that featured Russell Crowe in the lead role.

In a Twitter statement, Crowe wrote, "Stunned...my heart goes out to John & Alicia & family. An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts."

Howard also released a statement on Twitter that said, "RIP Brilliant ‪#NobelPrize winning John Nash & and his remarkable wife Alicia. It was an honor telling part of their story ‪#ABeautifulMind"