The 23-year-old man accused of fatally striking two teens in Union City appeared in court today via video link.
Eric Patterson, whose bail was set at $1 million dollars, had a number of traffic violations, a suspended license since 2012 and missed court appearances, according to officials.
Patterson, 23, of Jersey City, appeared in court via video link, where he was charged with two counts of death by auto and one count of assault by auto causing serious bodily injury for the deaths of 17-year-old Bryan Rodriguez and 16-year-old Noel Herrerra. A third teen, 17-year-old, Manuel Sanchez of Union City, suffered serious injuries including blunt force trauma and fractures.
The investigation into the crash revealed that Patterson - who was caught on video surveillance - was driving at 74 mph in a 25 mph on 26th Street struck the teens, a concrete-base bench and ultimately crashed into a wall of the apartment building at 2625 Kennedy Blvd., near the border of North Bergen and Union City in North Bergen.
Video also showed Patterson speeding through multiple red lights on Kennedy Boulevard before veering into the three teens.