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Eagle_C6
User
1527 Posts

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070316/NEWS/703160361

NEPTUNE — A Neptune man who was driving with a suspended license as he raced two other motorists on Route 33 smashed into a fourth car, and the crash claimed the lives of three of his passengers, authorities said.

Jesse Otero, 19, his brother, Valentin Otero Jr., 20, and John Richardson Jr., 20, all of Neptune, died Wednesday night on Route 33 near West Bangs Avenue.

Those three young men, along with Bobby Rodriguez, 20, of Ocean Township, who survived the crash, were passengers in a car driven by Nelson Villanueva, 19. Villanueva suffered serious head trauma and is hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said.

Villanueva's motor vehicle record shows more than three dozen violations and infractions, mostly for driving with a suspended license, and suspensions of his license for failing to pay surcharges or comply with court-ordered payment plans, according to state motor vehicle records.

Around 8:45 p.m. Villanueva, of Route 35 in Neptune, was racing two other young men when the 1988 Mazda 626 Turbo he was driving collided with a 2005 Acura TSX driven by Lazary Roseboro, 35, of Farmingdale, who is hospitalized in stable condition, authorities said.

Villanueva, Carlos Ortiz, 24, and Miguel Marrero, 22, all of Neptune were each charged with racing, a disorderly person offense, and each were issued summonses for reckless driving. Ortiz was also issued summonses for speeding — 65 mph in a 45 mph zone — and improper lane change, authorities said.

Villanueva was issued summonses for driving with a suspended or revoked license, operating an uninsured vehicle, operating an unregistered vehicle, display of fictitious license plates and speeding in excess of 70 mph in a 45 mph zone, authorities said.

A vigil was held Thursday evening at the site of the crash to remember the lives of Richardson and the Otero brothers, all graduates of Neptune High School. As youngsters, the Otero brothers served as altar boys at Our Lady of Providence Church, which recently relocated from Neptune to Asbury Park.

Prosecutor gives details


"Unfortunately, tragedy has struck Monmouth County again," county Prosecutor Luis A.Valentin said at the start of a news conference in Freehold Thursday. Three Freehold High School students and a 68-year-old school bus driver died in a fiery crash in Freehold Township in January.

Valentin later said racing is a problem in the county, as well as the state, and young people need to understand how easily vehicles can become instruments of death.

The race between Villanueva, Ortiz, of West Trident Boulevard, and Marrero, of 10th Avenue, began at the traffic light on Route 33, in front of Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, authorities said.

The three young men raced west on Route 33 until they stopped for the red light at the intersection with Route 18, the prosecutor said.

When the light turned green, the three cars resumed racing, reaching speeds well in excess of 65 mph, he said.

As they drove up the two westbound lanes, Roseboro was headed east on Route 33 and began to make a left turn onto West Bangs Avenue, authorities said.

Ortiz, driving a 1993 Honda Civic in the left lane, narrowly missed Roseboro's 2005 Acura TSX, but Villanueva, driving in the right lane, "forcefully struck the middle of the passenger side" broadside, said Valentin.

Roseboro's vehicle left the road and struck a utility pole, fracturing it. His vehicle came to rest facing east in the westbound lanes.

Villanueva's vehicle came to rest a significant distance from that intersection, Valentin said.

The Otero brothers and Richardson died instantly as a result of multiple blunt force trauma, the prosecutor said.

Ortiz, who had been racing in the lead position, continued on away from the accident, said Valentin.

Marrero, driving a 1991 Honda Civic, was behind Villanueva's vehicle and stopped beyond the intersection.

The prosecutor said until the investigation is complete, he could not divulge whether any of the young men were wearing seat belts.

He said he also could not say whether the race was planned or impromptu.

He also would not comment on whether there were any passengers in the vehicles driven by Ortiz or Marrero.

Valentin said the filing of preliminary charges does not mean the investigation has ended.

"They're a good family"


Jesse and Valentin Otero, along with their two young sisters, all served as altar servers at Our Lady of Providence, and they made all of their sacraments at the church.

"It's really sad for all of us," said Vanessa Otero, the church secretary, who is not related to the brothers. "They're a good family. The mother is such a humble person."

She said the brothers always helped their parents, and they used to help out at the church, where they have attended Mass since they were youngsters, she said.

"They're a really close family," she said.

Neptune police, the Prosecutor's Office and the Serious Collision Analysis Team are investigating the crash. Helping at the scene were the Neptune Office of Emergency Management, the state Department of Transportation, Neptune Fire Police, JCP&L, Hamilton, Liberty and Shark River Hills fire companies, Hamilton, Ocean Grove, Neptune, Shark River Hills and Wall first aid squads and MONOC.

LOVELAMP
OWNER OF SOSHAL
3548 Posts

I think it is more of a new article that there is life on Neptune!

CrunkleStove
Godfather Mayhem
1036 Posts

Thats what happens when you drive like a fool.