Plainfield Man Sentenced In Near-Fatal Drunk Driving Crash

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A Plainfield will spend five years in prison for his role in a near-fatal crash where he was driving drunk and under the influence of cocaine and THC, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald announced Friday.

Jose C. Villanueva-Izaguirre, 24, previously pleaded guilty to several charges connected to the June 11, 2023, crash, including three counts of third-degree assault by auto, three counts of fourth-degree assault by auto, three counts of fourth-degree driving without a license and one count of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

According to prosecutors, the crash happened shortly after 2 a.m. at the intersection of Route 22 eastbound and Vosseller Avenue in Bridgewater when Villanueva-Izaguirre, who was driving a Honda, sped through a red light and slammed into a Kia carrying a driver and two passengers.

One person in the Kia suffered near-fatal injuries, prosecutors said. The remaining two people in the Kia suffered serious injuries.

Villanueva-Izaguirre and three passengers in the Honda suffered minor injuries, prosecutors said.

According to authorities, Villanueva-Izaguirre had a blood alcohol level of 0.12 at the time of the crash. Later tests confirmed he also had cocaine and THC in his system.

Additionally, Villanueva-Izaguirre did not have a driver's license at the time of the crash and was driving an acquaintance's car, which he had taken without the owner's knowledge or permission.

Villanueva-Izaguirre pleaded guilty to charges in March.