By: Richard L. Smith
An Elizabeth man has been charged in connection with a fatal motor vehicle crash that claimed the life of another city resident earlier this year, according to a joint statement released by Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel, Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca, and Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves.
Jorge Echeverri, 40, is charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular homicide, third-degree strict liability vehicular homicide, and third-degree assault by auto in connection with the April 21 crash that killed 51-year-old Michael Cosme of Elizabeth.
Authorities said the collision occurred at approximately 11:45 p.m. in the 1100 block of Elizabeth Avenue.
Responding officers found a heavily damaged black Nissan Kicks driven by Cosme, who was unresponsive at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Investigators said the second vehicle, a white Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Echeverri, also contained a passenger.
Both occupants were taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.
According to the investigation, Echeverri was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and traveling at a high rate of speed when he crossed the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic, striking Cosme’s vehicle head-on.
The impact caused both vehicles to spin out of control before crashing into several parked vehicles.
Echeverri surrendered to the Elizabeth Police Department on Thursday, June 25. Following processing, he was transferred to the Union County Jail, where he is awaiting his first court appearance.
The investigation remains under the direction of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Elizabeth Police Department.