Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces the confirmation of the positive identification of the victims of the July 11th fatal crash on Route 80 in Rockaway Township.
On July 11, at approximately 1:37 a.m., New Jersey State Police were dispatched to a crash on Route 80 in Rockaway Township.
The crash involved a 2004 Kia sedan which was struck from behind by a 2014 Cadillac Escalade, driven by Bhavuk Uppal, 22, of Mountain Lakes.
The Kia became fully engulfed in flames and its three occupants perished as a result of the crash.
The occupants of the Kia have been positively identified by the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office as: Edward Russell Hitt, 24, Briana Mae Anderson, 22, and Charlotte Reagan Hitt, 18 months, of Louisville, Kentucky.
K Santiago-Madera and Brandon Green, both of the Bronx, N.Y., were the occupants of a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, also involved in the crash.
They were both taken to Morristown Memorial Hospital for their injuries. On July 11, 2015, Uppal was charged with vehicular homicide, a crime of the second degree, assault by auto, causing death while driving while suspended, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly persons offense and DWI, a motor vehicle violation.
The defendant’s initial bail of $300,000 bail with no 10% option, was increased to $750,000 during the July 13, 2015 bail hearing before the Honorable William J. McGovern, III. J.S.C. The defendant was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility, in lieu of bail.