Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey announced that a woman from Paterson was indicted today in the fatal collision which caused the death of an East Brunswick man and injured another shortly after midnight on September 22, 2018.
Officials say Elizabeth Gomez, 42, of Paterson was indicted for one count of vehicular homicide in the second degree, one count of strict liability vehicular homicide in the third degree, and one count of assault by auto in the fourth degree.
Three motor vehicle summonses were previously issued for Gomez for driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, and failure to observe a red traffic signal.
The indictment was handed up following a presentation to a Middlesex County grand jury by Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Keith Abrams.
An investigation by Officer Jason Zier of the North Brunswick Police Department and Detective David Abromaitis of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that in the early morning hours of September 22, 2018, Gomez, who was intoxicated at the time, was driving a 2007 BMW X3 on Route 1 near Fashion Plaza Drive. She ran a red light and crashed into a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu causing the death of the driver.
According to authorities, the victim, Wen-Fu Lin, 80, of East Brunswick was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. A 47-year old male passenger in his car was taken to a local hospital and treated for his injuries.
The investigation is active and is continuing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Zier at (732) 247-0922 ext. 316, or Detective Abromaitis at (732) 745-4336.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Gomez are merely accusations and she is presumed innocent until proven guilty.