By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Middlesex County announced that Giovanni Gaines-Little, 24, of Camden, was sentenced on July 29, 2024, in connection with a fatal hit and run that occurred on February 25, 2023.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said that on February 25, 2023, at approximately 9:58 p.m., authorities responded to the intersection of Route 130 and Route 32 in South Brunswick Township following the report of a motor vehicle crash.
Upon their arrival, officials say, authorities located Kerri Lynn Shea, 43, of East Windsor, unconscious and entrapped in her motor vehicle.
According to officials, the driver of the other involved motor vehicle fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement.
Ultimately, Ms. Shea died from injuries sustained in the collision, officials stated.
Authorities say an investigation led by Officer Bryan Sites of the South Brunswick Police Department and Detective Matthew Colonna of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that Giovanni Gaines-Little, 24, of Camden, was the driver of the Mitsubishi Lancer that collided with Ms. Shea’s vehicle.
Gaines-Little drove the Mitsubishi Lancer through a red light at a high rate of speed, collided with Ms. Shea’s car, and then fled the scene on foot, leaving his passenger behind, officials said, and at the time of the incident, Gaines-Little was unlicensed.
Officials stated Gaines-Little was arrested on January 29, 2024, and subsequently charged.
Officials said on April 12, 2024, Gaines-Little pled guilty to second-degree Vehicular Homicide and second-degree Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death.
Gaines-Little was sentenced on July 29, 2024, by the Honorable Thomas J. Buck, J.S.C., to 5 years subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA) which means he will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence for the crime of second-degree Vehicular Homicide, running consecutive to a 6-year sentence for the crime of second-degree Knowingly Leaving the Scene of Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death for a total of 11 years in New Jersey State Prison, authorities say.
Upon release, Gaines-Little will be subject to parole supervision for 3 years, according to officials.