By: Richard L. Smith
A New Brunswick man has been charged with aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide following a head-on crash that ultimately claimed the life of another driver, authorities announced.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:47 a.m. on September 20 along Jersey Avenue near Triangle Road in New Brunswick.
Authorities said a 2009 Toyota Corolla driven by 26-year-old Andres Gracia-Bobadilla of New Brunswick collided head-on with a 2017 Honda Accord driven by 25-year-old Alexcis Merino, also of New Brunswick.
Both drivers were rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for treatment. Merino sustained minor injuries, while Gracia-Bobadilla suffered serious injuries.
Six days after the crash, Gracia-Bobadilla succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
According to investigators, Merino was allegedly operating his vehicle under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision.
Authorities further allege that he was speeding and traveling on the wrong side of the roadway when his vehicle struck Gracia-Bobadilla’s car head-on.
On September 29, Merino was arrested without incident and charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter and second-degree vehicular homicide.
He is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility pending a pre-trial detention hearing.