Nutley Man Caused Fatal Crash While Driving Drunk: Prosecutors

NUTLEY, NJ — A Nutley resident accused of causing a fatal crash in Mount Laurel while intoxicated has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, prosecutors announced last week.

According to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, William Dunbar, 26, was driving northbound at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour when he crashed into the rear of another vehicle traveling in the same direction on Route 73 in Mount Laurel in August 2018.

The driver of the vehicle that was struck, Christopher Pappas, 34, of Howell, was pronounced dead at the scene. The force of the impact caused his car to overturn and strike a utility pole before coming to rest, prosecutors said.

Neither vehicle had passengers, authorities said.

Dunbar indicated when entering his plea that he had been drinking alcohol at a concert earlier in the day. He did not dispute the results of toxicology tests which determined his blood alcohol content was .16 percent shortly after the crash, prosecutors said.

Dunbar pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter (first degree) in exchange for a sentence of 10 years in New Jersey state prison, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 14.

Keep updated with local public safety alerts at the Patch Belleville-Nutley Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com