Union Man Charged With DWI In Fatal Crash Of Hillside Officer

UNION, NJ — A Union Township man has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal crash on Route 1 that killed an off-duty Hillside police officer in October, acting Union County Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan and Linden Police Chief David Hart jointly announced Tuesday.

Ricardo Dos-Santos blood-alcohol level was also found to be more than twice the legal limit during the crash that killed Officer Giovanni Esposito, 30, Monahan said.

Dos-Santos, 29, is charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and additionally has been cited for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving, speeding, failure to observe a traffic signal, and failure to wear a seat belt.

The crash occurred around 2:15 a.m. where a 2017 Acura RDX was driving north on Route 1 when it collided with 2007 International tractor-trailer cab, who was driving north in the center lane at the intersection of Pleasant Street, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Armando Suarez, who is prosecuting the case.

The Acura overturned following the collision, and both occupants were seriously injured. Both Dos-Santos and Esposito were treated on scene by Linden Fire Department personnel and transported to Newark University Hospital in serious condition, Suarez said.

Esposito was later pronounced dead and identified by Hillside officials as an off-duty Hillside Police Officer.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.

Dos-Santo's blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 when he collided with the rear portion of a commercial truck that had been stopped at a red light, following a joint investigation by the Union County Homicide Task Force and the Linden Police Department Traffic Bureau.

Dos-Santos was arrested without incident on Saturday, and a first appearance in the case has been tentatively scheduled for this Thursday.

Dos-Santos faces five to 10 years in state prison if convicted on the second-degree criminal offenses.

Anyone with further information about this matter is being asked to contact Linden Police Investigator Jimmy Solano at 908-494-6792 or Task Force Detective Richard Acosta at 908-347-0404.

• See Related: Details Released In Fatal Rt. 1 Crash Of Hillside Police Officer
• Related: 'God Bless His Soul': Community Mourns Loss Of Hillside Officer
• Related: Arrangements Set For Hillside Officer Killed In Fatal Rt. 1 Crash

(Image via Union County Prosecutor's Office: Ricardo Dos-Santos, 29, of Union Township)

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