A New Jersey man faces one count of death by auto and one for witness tampering after causing a crash on February 15. The collision occurred at 2 a.m. on a local highway. The victim’s car was in flames on the center median while the man’s car was flipped on the side of the road. Making matters worse, the man allegedly offered money to a good Samaritan who stopped if they would drive him away from the accident scene. The Samaritan refused to do so.
The victim died at the hospital an hour and a half after the crash. While the man was treated for injuries and released, he was later arrested and put in the Union County Jail.
Panicking makes it worse
There is no doubt that the man panicked after the crash, trying to leave the accident scene and attempting to bribe someone to help him. Nevertheless, law enforcement and the courts take such transgressions as a lethal hit-and-run very seriously. There likely will be severe criminal charges for the man’s actions. Moreover, it is all likely for naught because law enforcement had the charged man’s car.
Like others in similar circumstances, the victim’s family will have the option of filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver. This will not bring back the deceased driver, but it can provide peace of mind to the family that justice was served. The damages can also help families better face the challenges of life without a loved one.