By: Richard L. Smith
A Saturday night gathering in a quiet Wayne neighborhood ended in tragedy when a guest from Queens, New York, died after reportedly driving into a backyard swimming pool, according to information released by the Wayne Police Department.
The incident unfolded on July 19, 2025, at approximately 10:36 p.m., when officers responded to a home on Rutgers Court after receiving a report of a motor vehicle crash into a pool.
When police arrived at the scene, they quickly discovered that the situation was even more alarming than initially believed.
A 44-year-old man who had been attending a house party was found unresponsive in the pool.
Though it was first reported as a crash, authorities confirmed the man had somehow driven into the pool before drowning.
Guests at the party pulled the man from the water and began administering CPR until emergency responders arrived. Wayne Police, along with the Wayne First Aid Squad and paramedics from Saint Joseph’s Health, took over life-saving efforts.
He was transported to Saint Joseph’s Wayne Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The Wayne Police Detective Bureau is actively investigating the incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Joseph Cobianchi at 973-633-3530.