Police Officer Charged In Fatal Accident That Killed Burlington County Woman: Prosecutor

A police officer was drunk prior to an accident that resulted in the death of a woman who was a passenger in his car in Burlington County last month, Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi and Florence Township Police Chief John A. Bunce said Thursday morning.

Justin Rodriguez, 25, of Burlington Township, was charged with one count of second-degree vehicular homicide for causing the death of Ariana Williams in the early morning collision on Sept. 23.

Rodriguez was taken into custody Thursday morning at the Prosecutor’s Office, and was released after posting $50,000 full bail. The case will now be sent a Burlington County Grand Jury to be considered for indictment.

Toxicology results of Rodriguez’s blood following the accident showed he had “consumed an excessive amount of alcohol in the hours leading up to the crash,” authorities said.

He was driving his personal car at the time of the accident, and he was off-duty at the time. He has been a police officer in Burlington Township for 11 months.

He had been on administrative leave since the crash, but was suspended without pay after he was arrested and charged on Thursday, according to the Burlington Township Police Department. That suspension will last through the conclusion of the case.

Ariana Williams, 27, of Florence, was pronounced dead at the scene after the Acura Integra being driven by Rodriguez lost control on West Front Street and hit a utility pole at about 2:10 a.m. There were no other passengers in the car.

Rodriguez was ejected from the car, and taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton. He was discharged from the hospital on Sept. 26, authorities said.

“The members of the Burlington Township Police Department, first and foremost, would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Ariana Williams,” the Burlington Township Police Department said in a statement. “We cannot even begin to imagine the pain and grief they are experiencing over their loss. This was a tragic and preventable accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

“This incident was investigated by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, in conjunction with the Florence Township Police Department. The Burlington Township Police Department had no role in the investigation; however, we have faith in the fact that it was conducted in a thorough and fair manner. In addition, based upon the evidence, we concur with the determination that criminal charges were warranted and appropriate.

“As an agency, the Burlington Township Police Department values our professionalism and integrity above all else. The allegations against this officer do not reflect those values, and they have no place in our agency."