By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Somerset County announced that on May 10, 2024, defendant Jose C. Villanueva-Izaguirre, 24, of Plainfield, was sentenced by the Honorable Angela F. Borkowski, J.S.C., to a term of five years in prison on multiple charges.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said the charges included three counts of third-degree Assault by Auto, three counts of fourth-degree Assault by Auto, three counts of fourth-degree Driving While Unlicensed and causing serious bodily injury, and one count of third-degree Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle.
Authorities say additionally, defendant Villanueva-Izaguirre was ordered to pay $17,623.73 restitution to one of the six victims.
Officials stated that defendant Villanueva-Izaguirre was also sentenced for the motor vehicle offenses of Driving While Intoxicated and Driving While Unlicensed.
According to officials, defendant Villanueva-Izaguirre entered a guilty plea to the charges on March 22, 2024.
The charges were the result of a serious motor vehicle crash caused by defendant Villanueva-Izaguirre on June 11, 2023, at about 2:09 a.m., at the intersection of Route 22 eastbound and Vosseller Avenue in Bridgewater, officials said.
Officials say defendant Villanueva-Izaguirre was intoxicated, did not have a driver’s license, and two of his three passengers were not wearing seatbelts.
The Honda defendant Villanueva-Izaguirre was driving and belonged to an acquaintance, and officials said that the defendant had taken the vehicle without the owner’s knowledge or permission.
At the intersection, authorities say, defendant Villanueva-Izaguirre drove at high speed through the red light and slammed into the right front side of a Kia that had two passengers in addition to the driver.
As a result of the crash, officials say, two victims in the Kia suffered serious bodily injuries. One victim in the Honda suffered severe near-fatal injuries.
Officials said defendant Villanueva-Izaguirre and the other victims suffered relatively minor injuries.
Defendant Villanueva-Izaguirre’s Blood Alcohol Concentration was 0.12%, officials say.
Officials stated that in addition to alcohol, the subsequent tests also confirmed the presence of cocaine and THC in the defendant’s system.