Wrong-Way MD Driver Pleads Guilty In Family Of 5 Crash Deaths

TEANECK, NJ — The Maryland driver of a pickup truck who crashed into a car last summer and killed five members of a New Jersey family heading home from Ocean City, Maryland, pleaded guilty Wednesday to several charges in the deaths of a father and his four daughters. Albert S. Hubbard III of East New Market pleaded guilty to five counts of operation of a motor vehicle causing death and three counts of vehicular assault, Carl Kanefsky, a spokesperson with the Delaware Department of Justice confirmed Wednesday afternoon.

The wrong-way driver from Maryland's Eastern Shore crashed his truck into a family's car, killing Audi Marquez Trinidad, 61, of Teaneck, New Jersey, and his four daughters: Kaitlyn, 20; Danna, 17; and 13-year-old twins, Melissa and Allison. All of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Wife and mother Mary Rose Ballocanag was the only family member to survive, but she was seriously injured, suffering many fractured and broken bones.

At a press conference in July, Ballocoanag said she wants "justice" for her family.

Hubbard faces up to 14 years in prison and a $3,450 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for September, NorthJersey.com reported.

An investigation found no evidence that drugs or alcohol played a part in the crash, Julia Lawes, a Delaware Department of Justice spokesperson previously said.

Delaware police say Hubbard drove the wrong way on a Delaware highway when his pickup truck crashed into a minivan, killing the five New Jersey family members on July 6, 2018. His Ford F-350 pickup truck crossed a center median heading into oncoming traffic and struck the Trinidadfamily's minivan, authorities said.

Ballocanag and her attorney, Diane Lucianna said that, according to eyewitnesses, Hubbard was driving "crazily" before he crashed into the family's Toyota Sienna. Lucianna said the passenger in Hubbard's vehicle, identified by police as a man from Hurlock, Maryland, said that Hubbard may have experienced a medical episode that caused him to lose control of the truck and crash into the other vehicles.

A GoFundMe page set up for Mary Rose as she recuperates from her injuries has raised more than $298,000.

Hubbard was driving the truck on the southbound lanes when he hit a Mercury Sable, kept going, and then hit the Trinidad family's minivan in the northbound lanes, Lucianna said. The impact caused the Sable and minivan to leave the highway and end up in a ditch, police said.

Lucianna said Hubbard was using the Ford for work when the crash occurred. It was fully loaded with materials when it crossed over the grassy median and hit the family's vehicle.

SEE ALSO: Wrong-Way MD Driver ID'd In Crash That Killed 5 Family Members

Audie Trinidad grew up in the Philippines and, in 1987, he came to the United States when he enlisted in the Navy and served for seven years, according to The Record. "He was proud to be an American," his brother, Danny, told the publication. "That's why he joined the Navy."

Linda Douglas, a family friend who created the GoFundMe page, told nj.com that the family always prioritized their children.

"Audie was the family dad, he was always the dad to pick everyone up in the minivan," Douglas told nj.com. "We traded off, but no matter whose sweet 16 it was you could always count on Audi."

Kaitlyn and Dana were both setters on the Teaneck High School head volleyball team, according to the publication. "They were both great players who were loved by all of their teammates," Teaneck head coach Sue Cipriano told nj.com.

Story by Daniel Hubbard, Patch Staff