By: Richard L. Smith
A Texas man has been sentenced to five years of probation in connection with a head-on crash on Route 206 that claimed the life of a 22-year-old Hopatcong woman.
According to a statement released by Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Acting Chief of Detectives Mark Castellano and Mount Olive Township Police Chief Michael Cordileone, 39-year-old Cody Bonds of Crandall, Texas, was sentenced September 11 following his guilty plea in the February crash.
Authorities said Bonds pleaded guilty on June 26 to third-degree Reckless Vehicular Homicide and a traffic violation for failure to maintain a lane.
Superior Court Judge Ralph E. Amirata sentenced Bonds to five years of probation, 100 hours of community service and a five-year driver’s license suspension. He also received credit for 17 days previously served in jail.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:51 p.m. on February 3 in the Flanders section of Mount Olive.
Investigators said Bonds was driving a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe north on Route 206 when the vehicle crossed the double-yellow centerline and entered the southbound lane, where it collided head-on with a 2024 Toyota Corolla.
The Corolla’s driver, identified by authorities as 22-year-old Jamie Lynn Augenbaugh of Hopatcong, and Bonds were both transported to Morristown Medical Center with injuries.
Augenbaugh died from her injuries five days after the crash.
Authorities subsequently charged Bonds on February 24 in connection with the collision.