Driver Went Wrong Way on Rt. 9 in South Amboy Fatal Easter Sunday Crash

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ - Patch reported on the fatal Easter Sunday car accident on Rt. 9 in South Amboy that killed two men, and injured three others. Now, on Tuesday, the Middlesex County prosecutor's office said they learned what caused the crash: One driver was driving the wrong way on Rt. 9 north, but it was not who investigators originally thought.

After reviewing evidence acquired during the investigation, it has been determined that Miguel Mendoza-Chong, 31, of Perth Amboy, and not Percell Livingston Jr., 51 of East Orange, was driving the wrong way on Route 9 north when their minivans crashed head on in South Amboy, the Middlesex County prosecutor said Tuesday. Earlier reports suggested Livingston was driving the wrong way. A photo of the crash scene is above.

The account of the collision was revised during the continuing investigation, which included information obtained from additional witnesses and video. The video and the witness statements are part of the investigation and are not being released at this time.

Both men were pronounced dead at the scene following the crash which occurred in the northbound lanes of Rt. 9 at 2:15 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 16.

The three passengers riding with Mendoza-Chong were taken to area hospitals. A 38-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center in New Brunswick. The third victim, a 28-year-old woman, was treated at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy Division.

The crash is being investigated by Officer Stephen Clarke of the South Amboy Police Department and Detective Donald Heck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Clarke of the South Amboy Police Department at (732) 721-0111, or Detective Heck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-8842.