Careless Driving Charge In Turnpike Crash That Killed Band Member, Pal: Report

A Woodbridge man has been ticketed for careless driving in the three-car accident that killed a Brick Township man and a former Point Pleasant Beach man earlier this month, according to a report.

NJ.com reported Monday that Nishank Shaw, 24, “failed to observe stopped traffic” ahead of him in the Nov. 9 crash, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Flynn said Monday.

Shaw rear-ended the Volkswagen Passat carrying Christopher Calderone, 20, of Brick, and his friend, Rob Critelli, 21, a Point Pleasant Beach man who had moved to Summit, killing both. A third friend, Paul Fiorentino, 21, of Point Pleasant, who was driving the Passat, survived the crash, police said.

The force of Shaw’s Toyota Avalon hitting the Passat, which was stopped in the left lane southbound near marker 12.6 in Woolwich Township, drove the Passat into the back of a Toyota Sienna driven by Igor Lougovtsov, 46, of Yarmouth, Maine, and then into a concrete barrier, state police said.

Since the incident involved fatalities, Woolwich municipal court has referred the case to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office for review, the NJ.com report said. But unless new information comes to light or the prosecutor decides that further action is warranted, no other charges are expected.

“At this time, there will not be criminal charges,” Flynn told NJ.com Monday.

Calderone and Critelli were part of a tight-knit group of friends linked in part by their relationship to the band Fated Endeavor. Calderone was the band’s guitarist; Fiorentino is its lead vocalist.

Fated Endeavor, which had just released its first album over the summer, had reached the semifinals of the Rock To The Top competition at The Stone Pony just days before the crash. The band’s other two members, Chris Bevacqua and Nick Perez, performed in the semifinals, using a recording of Calderone on the guitar, but without vocals, and advanced to the finals of the competition, according to a post on the band’s Facebook page.

“There are no words; no words to express how honored, proud, and excited we are to say we have advanced into the Finals of the Rock To The Top competition. Yesterday was not an easy day, but seeing all of you who came out to support us, and Chris was absolutely incredible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us in any way. Chris, we know you’re proud; beyond proud of us. Next time we take that stage, Paul will be singing with us just like he used too. We will continue to make you proud wherever you may be. More news to come along with a tribute. Remember To Endeavor.”

Friends of Critelli and Calderone are raising money to help the men’s families with their funeral costs through a GoFundme campaign. Click here if you wish to donate.