Bridgewater Man Killed In Crash, Speeding Driver Charged: Prosecutor

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — A Union County man was charged in connection with a fatal crash that killed a Bridgewater man in Somerset County on March 4.

Kavon Powell-Coleman, 35, of Plainfield, was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and fourth-degree assault by auto, announced Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and North Plainfield Chief of Police Alan McKay on Monday.

On March 4 at around 1:16 p.m., North Plainfield Police Officers responded to a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Greenbrook Road and Duer Street.

Officers found a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the middle of Greenbrook Road and a 2014 Ford F-150 pick-up truck on the front lawn of a home on Duer Street.

The driver of the F-150 sustained minor injuries and refused medical treatment. The driver of the Jeep Cherokee identified as Powell-Coleman also sustained minor injuries and refused medical attention at the scene, said McDonald.

The front passenger and rear passenger of the Ford F-150 pick-up truck were taken to an area
hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.

The driver of the Ford F-150 said he was driving west on Greenbrook Road with his two passengers when he was hit at the intersection, said McDonald.

On March 7, the rear passenger of the Ford F-150, Victor Manuel Amaya Ramos, 68, of Bridgewater, had died from injuries sustained in the motor vehicle crash, said McDonald.

An investigation was started by members of the Somerset County Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART), members of the North Plainfield Police Department Traffic Safety Division and detectives from the Somerset County Proseuctor’s Office Major Crimes Unit.

Authorities were able to see from surveillance video that Powell-Coleman was driving down Duer Street toward Greenbrook Road at a high rate of speed, said McDonald.

The posted speed limit on Duer Street is 25 mph.

A few seconds later, a loud bang is heard consistent with a crash. Duer Street has a posted stop sign at the intersection, Greenbrook Road does not, said McDonald.

On March 13, Powell-Coleman was arrested in Somerville. He was also issued various motor vehicle summonses by the North Plainfield Police Department at the time of the accident.

Powell-Coleman was processed and lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a hearing on this matter.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the North Plainfield Police Department at 908-769-2900 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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