By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Essex County announced that a Perth Amboy man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for vehicular manslaughter after striking two pedestrians, killing one and seriously injuring another.
Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, stated that 44-year-old Dhkir Robinson entered a guilty plea on February 21.
The Honorable Karina Fuentes, J.S.C., presided over both the guilty plea hearing and the sentencing, ECPO officials say.
Prosecutors proved that on February 14, 2024, Robinson was intoxicated while driving at 55 miles per hour on Milton Avenue in Nutley when he crashed into 22-year-old Wiston Perlaza and 21-year-old Jocelyn Pietri.
As a result of the impact, Pietri was flung over the highway overpass and landed on the shoulder of the Garden State Parkway near mile marker 151.4, ECPO officials stated.
According to Essex County officials, she sustained multiple fractures and, as a result, spent several months in physical therapy relearning how to walk.
Perlaza’s body was thrown several feet. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries on the scene, Essex County authorities said.
According to witnesses, the defendant exited the vehicle, approached Perlaza, who was lying helpless on the ground, got back into his vehicle, and left the scene. Witnesses provided law enforcement with a description of the defendant and a description of the badly damaged car, as well as the license plate number.
This led to Robinson’s arrest shortly after the crash in Newark, ECPO authorities stated.
Prosecutor Victoria M. Saraiva, who tried the case, commends the joint efforts of the Nutley Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, and the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, which led to the apprehension of the defendant.
Essex County officials said Robinson, who has six prior felony convictions, was sentenced to eight years in New Jersey State Prison for vehicular manslaughter.
He is required to serve 85% of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole, ECO officials say. 
In addition, Robinson was sentenced to 15 months for assault by auto, to be served concurrently, and a consecutive eight-year sentence for leaving the scene of a fatal crash, according to Essex County officials.