Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Deputy Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora announced Mr. Aaron Burton,33, from Hackensack, was arrested Friday afternoon concerning fatal motor vehicle accident that took place on September 9th in the area of 135 East 18th Street in the City of Paterson.
Investigators charged Mr. Burton with Death by Auto While Driving Intoxicated Within 1000 Feet of School Property, First Degree; Death by Auto, Second Degree; Assault by Auto Causing Serious Bodily Injury While Driving While Intoxicated Within 1000 Feet of School Property, Second Degree; Assault by Auto Causing Serious Bodily Injury While Driving While Intoxicated, Third Degree; and Assault by Auto Causing Serious Bodily Injury, Fourth Degree.
According to police reports, police responded to the area of 135 East 18th Street in the city of Paterson, at approximately 3:40 a.m., in response to a report of a serious motor vehicle accident.
Upon their arrival, they found Mr. Burton’s 2008 Crown Victoria in the roadway, disabled with severe collision damage.
Police said during the accident, Mr. Burton struck a total 11 vehicles that were parked along both sides of East 18th Street where Burton and one of his passengers, Mr. Justin Demmie, 32, Hackensack, were ejected from the vehicle and suffered severe injuries.
A third occupant in the vehicle, Mr. Antonio Clark, 35, Teaneck, suffered injuries.
Doctors treated Mr. Burton for his injuries at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson, then discharged him after four.
Authorities said Mr. Demmie succumbed to his injuries and as doctors pronounced him dead at St. Joseph’s hospital shortly after the crash at approximately 4:16 a.m.
The investigation revealed that Mr. Burton operated the vehicle recklessly with a blood alcohol content of 0.213 percent at the time of the crash, and drove at excessive speed authorities said.
Authorities scheduled Burton to appear at Central Judicial Processing on Sunday, October 8th, at 1:30 p.m. where authorities intend to file a motion for pretrial detention to a Superior Court Judge.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this allegation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt