Communities throughout the state of New Jersey take drunk driving very seriously regardless of the age of the drunk driver. Those located in Somerset County, are not an exception. This is illustrated in the charges recently filed against two New Jersey seniors related to a fatal auto accident with a pedestrian they were both involved in.
The incident occurred this past January as each was driving their own vehicle. According to authorities, the 68-year-old woman who died in the incident had gotten out of her car because she herself first hit a pedestrian in the area of North Avenue and Tuttle Parkway. She was reportedly assisting that man when a car driven by an 84-year-old man hit both the woman as well as the man she first hit.
Shortly thereafter, the second collision occurred. A truck that was driven by a 74-year-old man then struck just the woman, further injuring her. Though she was taken to a hospital for treatment, sadly, she succumbed to her injuries. The man who the woman initially hit with her car reportedly sustained serious injuries.
The driver of the first vehicle that struck the woman remained at the scene after the incident. The man behind the wheel of the second, a pickup truck, fled.
Both men were eventually charges with the following:
- Driving while intoxicated
- Failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk
- Reckless driving
The man who left the scene was also charged with the failure to report an accident. Recently, they were both charged with more serious crimes. The man driving the first vehicle is facing a charge for second-degree vehicular homicide and assault by auto. The man who left the scene was charged with second-degree leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
It is possible that in addition to criminal charges, the men could face civil lawsuits as well. This is because the family of the woman who died could file a wrongful death lawsuit to try to recoup financial compensation for her untimely death. Though all would likely agree that money is a poor substitute for the loss of a life, it may make it easier for those she left behind to move forward with their lives.
Source: myCentralJersey.com, “2 seniors facing new charges,” Mark Spivey, June 20, 2012