By: Richard L. Smith
A Plainfield resident has been arrested and charged in connection with a deadly car crash that occurred in North Plainfield earlier this month, authorities announced.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and North Plainfield Police Chief Alan McKay confirmed the arrest of 35-year-old Kavon Powell-Coleman on charges related to a fatal collision that took place on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 4.
At approximately 1:16 p.m., North Plainfield Police officers responded to a 911 call reporting a serious crash at the intersection of Greenbrook Road and Duer Street.
Upon arrival, officers found a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Powell-Coleman, in the middle of Greenbrook Road, and a 2014 Ford F-150 pickup truck on the lawn of a nearby residence.
Both drivers sustained minor injuries and declined medical treatment at the scene. Two passengers in the Ford F-150 were transported to a local hospital for injuries.
The driver of the F-150 reported he had been traveling westbound on Greenbrook Road with two passengers when he was struck at the intersection by the Jeep Cherokee, which had been heading down Duer Street.
Greenbrook Road has the right of way at that intersection; Duer Street is marked with a stop sign.
Tragically, on March 7, police were notified that one of the passengers in the Ford F-150—68-year-old Victor Manuel Amaya Ramos of Bridgewater—had died as a result of his injuries.
An investigation by the Somerset County Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART), North Plainfield Police Traffic Safety Division, and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Powell-Coleman had been driving at a high rate of speed down Duer Street.
Surveillance footage showed him failing to stop at the intersection moments before the crash occurred. The posted speed limit on Duer Street is 25 mph.
On March 13, Powell-Coleman was arrested in Somerville and charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and fourth-degree assault by auto.
He was also issued multiple traffic summonses and remains in custody at the Somerset County Jail pending a court hearing.