Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief William Volkert of the Old Bridge Police Department said a man from Old Bridge has been arrested and charged with causing the death of two female passengers and injuring another driver in the early morning hours of July 6, 2019.
According to a statement released by authorities, Mr. Tristan R. Rodriguez, 23, of Old Bridge has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide in the second degree, and one count of assault by auto in the fourth degree,
Two passengers, Ms. Krystal C. Diaz, 29, of Old Bridge, the passenger in Rodriguez’s car, and a 17-year-old female passenger in the other vehicle were both pronounced dead at the scene from the injuries they sustained from the crash.
Officials say a 20-year old male, also from Old Bridge, who was driving the other vehicle was taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries. Rodriguez was also taken to the hospital for his injuries.
The auto crash is being investigated by Police Officer Steven Connolly of the Old Bridge Police Department and Detective Jonathan Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
The investigation began after police were dispatched to the scene of the crash on Englishtown Road near the JCP&L building in Old Bridge, at 3:50 am.
The preliminary investigation has determined that in the early morning hours of July 6, 2019, Rodriguez was intoxicated while driving an Acura on Englishtown Road when he crashed into the rear of a pickup truck.
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Office Connolly at (732) 721-5600 or Detective Berman at (732) 745-4328.
As in the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Rodriguez are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.