Middlesex County Acting Prosecutor Christopher L.C. Kuberiet and Chief Michael McLaughlin of the Piscataway Police Department announced today that a Piscataway woman has been charged in the October 6, motorcycle crash in which a man from Piscataway died from his injuries.
The deceased motorcyclist was identified as John Shlyk, 64, of Piscataway. Mr. Shlyk died on October 22, 2019, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick due to complications from the injuries he sustained in the crash on October 6, 2019.
Nijer Reaves, 20, of Piscataway was arrested and charged on November 14, 2019, with vehicular homicide in the second degree. She was previously issued 11 motor vehicle summonses including careless and reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to maintain lane, and speeding.
During the investigation, it was determined that on October 6, 2019 at approximately 6:47 am, Reaves was driving a 2017 Toyota Corolla traveling south on Stelton Road when she crossed into oncoming traffic and caused a head-on collision. Reaves struck the victim’s 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle, which was traveling north, near Hamilton Blvd. and Woodrow Avenue. Shlyk was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick in serious condition, where he subsequently died.
Reaves is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center pending a Detention Hearing in New Brunswick Superior Court scheduled for November 19, 2019.
The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Howay Yang of the Piscataway Police Department at (732) 562-7647 or Detective Jonathan Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4328.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charge against Reaves is merely an accusation and she is presumed innocent until proven guilty.