Law enforcement officials said Mr. Alvin Mootoo, 49, of Orlando, Florida, for a January 2, 2019 motor vehicle crash that left one person dead and two others injured in Paterson.
According to police, at approximately 9:34 p.m., members of the Paterson Police Department responded to the area of 18th Avenue and East 24th Street in response to a report of a multi-vehicle collision involving three vehicles and a pedestrian.
Upon their arrival, police found the driver of a Buick Encore, later identified as 46-year-old Alvin Mootoo.
The investigation revealed that Mr. Mootoo disregarded a stop sign when he struck a silver 2008 Honda Accord. As a result of his vehicle being struck, Mr. Mootoo’s car was pushed into a 1999 Honda Accord, which was occupied and parked at the time. Mr. Pena Mesa was standing outside of the 1999 Honda Accord speaking to the driver, at which time he was struck and sustained severe injuries.
Police say Mr. Pena Mesa was transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital for treatment, where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.
Officials said a Passaic County Grand Jury returned the indictment charging Mr. Mootoo with multiple crimes in relation to this crash, including First Degree Aggravated Manslaughter, one count of First Degree Death by Auto While Driving Intoxicated Within 1,000 Feet of School Property, one count of First Degree Death By Auto With Refusal Within 1,000 Feet of School Property, one count of Second Degree Death by Auto, one count of Third Degree Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide, two counts of Third Degree Assault by Auto While Driving Intoxicated Within 1,000 Feet of School Property, two counts of Third Degree Assault by Auto With Refusal Within 1,000 Feet of School Property, and two counts of Fourth Degree Assault by Auto.
A Superior Court Judge previously denied the State’s motion for pretrial detention of the defendant, and he is on pretrial release pending the disposition of the case.
Officials said Mr. Mootoo is scheduled for arraignment on March 29, before the Honorable Marybel Mercado-Ramirez, J.S.C.