Men Hit 100 MPH Before Deadly Tacony-Palmyra Bridge Crash: Police

PALMYRA, NJ — Two men exceeded 100 mph while racing on the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge just before causing a 5-car crash that killed a 35-year-old Camden man late last year, authorities announced.

Jonathan Ramos, 28, and Brandon Moore, 23, both of Philadelphia, were both charged in connection with the crash that killed Gerardo Francisco Perez Martinez on Dec. 28, according to authorities.

They were going home from New Jersey when they sped up to cross the bridge just before 7 p.m., according to Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Burlington County Bridge Commission Public Safety Director Patrick J. Reilly.

Moore hit 112 mph, while Ramos hit 106 mph on the bridge in which the speed limit is 45 mph, authorities said. While racing, Moore’s 2018 Dodge Charger sideswiped Ramos’ 2015 Grand Jeep Cherokee, triggering the crash, authorities said.

In addition to Martinez’s death, multiple people were taken to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden for treatment. None of those injuries were life-threatening.

After the crash, Ramos got out of his car and walked away from the scene, according to authorities. He first asked another driver to call his cell phone because he couldn’t find it in the wreckage, authorities said. Police said they later found the phone in the car he was driving.

Moore was arrested on Jan. 22, and charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He was released following a first appearance in Superior Court.

Ramos surrendered at the prosecutor’s office in Mount Holly on Tuesday, with his attorney present, authorities said. He is lodged in Burlington County Jail pending a detention hearing on March 5.

Ramos was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide, second-degree leaving the scene of a fatal accident, third-degree causing death while driving with a suspended license, and third-degree endangering an injured victim by leaving the scene without rendering aid.

The cases against the both me will be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment, authorities said.

See related:
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