Three people killed in Jefferson crash; driver charged - New Jersey Herald

Staff and wire reports

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JEFFERSON — Three people, including a child and a pregnant woman, have died as a result of a single-vehicle accident on Route 15, and the driver has been arrested on a variety of charges, Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Jefferson Township Police Chief Kevin Craig announced Sunday.

Luis E. Torres, 37, of Jersey City, was charged with multiple counts of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and assault by auto after the crash, which occurred Saturday at 6:51 p.m., on Route 15 at the intersection of Heller's Lane. Jefferson Police Officers Sean Krater and Dave Wojtach were the first to respond.

The initial investigation revealed that a 2002 Ford Explorer operated by Torres was traveling south on Route 15 when the vehicle he was operating suddenly swerved and left the roadway. The vehicle overturned, ejecting numerous passengers, police said. Nine passengers including the driver were traveling in the vehicle. Two passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, a third, who was five months pregnant, along with her unborn child were both pronounced dead at Morristown Medical Center. The deceased were identified as Lucila Colon, 62, Tevia Booth, 11, and Julissa Colon, 36, and her unborn child. All were residents of Jersey City.

Jefferson Township police say Torres told them he and his passengers had attended a family gathering that day in Sussex County and were on their way home when the crash occurred. They say Torres admitted he had been drinking beer for most of the day and said he was trying to pass another vehicle when he lost control of the SUV.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Torres had an attorney.

Torres and the remaining passengers — all Jersey City residents who ranged in age from 5 to 40 — suffered moderate to serious injuries and were transported to St. Clare's-Dover Hospital.

Through a criminal investigation conducted by the Jefferson Township Police Department along with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, a warrant for the arrest of Torres was signed by the Honorable Stuart A. Minkowitz on Sunday.

The defendant was charged with three counts of aggravated manslaughter in violation, a crime of the first degree; three counts of vehicular homicide, a crime of the second degree; and five counts of assault by auto in violation, a crime of the fourth degree.

Judge Minkowitz set bail at $750,000 cash, bond or property with no 10 percent option. The defendant was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility.

Anyone with information relating to these charges is urged to contact the Jefferson Township Police Department at 973-697-1300 or the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200.

Responding to the accident, in addition to Krater and Wojtach, were Capt. Eric Wilsusen, Detectives Kratzel and Geib and numerous other officers of the Jefferson Township Police Department, the Morris County Medical Examiner's Office, the New Jersey State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit, the Morris County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Section, the Rockaway Township Police Department, the Sparta Township Police Department, Jefferson Township Fire Co. No. 2, the Jefferson Rescue Squad, the Milton First Aid Squad, the Mine Hill Rescue Squad, Atlantic Health Systems Air One and the New Jersey DOT, and Lt. Steve Wilson, Senior Trial Counsel John McNamara, Assistant Prosecutor Brian DiGiacomo and the members of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit, all of whom participated in this investigation.