Vehicular Homicide Charges Filed In East Brunswick Woman's Death

PHILADELPHIA, NJ — Vehicular homicide charges have now been filed in the death of a young East Brunswick woman who was hit and killed while riding her bike to work in Center City Philadelphia two years ago.

Emily Fredricks, 24, of East Brunswick was hit and killed Nov. 28, 2017 in Philadelphia. Fredricks was pedaling her bike to work when she was hit by a garbage truck near 11th and Spruce streets at about 7:25 a.m.

Video obtained from inside the truck showed the driver wearing ear buds and looking at paperwork while he was driving, according to Philly.com. The driver made a right-hand turn and struck Emily, prosecutors said. There is a bike lane on that street, and Fredricks was in the bike lane when she was hit, police say.

Fredericks taken to Jefferson Hospital and pronounced dead at 7:50 a.m., police said.

Her death became a movement among the Philadelphia bike-riding community for more protection for people riding bikes.

The driver of that truck, Jorge Fretts, 28, of Philadelphia, was charged this week with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment of another person. The Philadelphia district attorney filed the charges Wednesday.

"The evidence took us to the inescapable conclusion that this was not an accident, that this was an unlawful act," Anthony Voci, homicide chief with the Philadelphia DA, said Wednesday. “That it was due in large part to inattention and disregard for multiple laws.”

According to Philly.com, the owner of the garbage truck company, Woodbridge, NJ-based Gold Medal Environmental, settled with Emily's family for more than $6 million. They also agreed to donate $25,000 a year for the next five years to an organization dedicated to safe streets in Philadelphia.

Fredricks had moved to Philadelphia to pursue her career as a pastry chef. She worked at Le Chéri, an upscale French bistro near Rittenhouse Square. Her parents bought her the foldable bike so she could carry it up and down her apartment stairs and not have to worry about a car in the city.

Fredricks grew up in East Brunswick and graduated from East Brunswick High School in 2011. She went to Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., and graduated with a B.A. in baking and pastry and a minor in psychology, according to this article about her death on Philly.com. She was known among her friends and at East Brunswick high school for her artwork.

Related: East Brunswick Woman, 24, Killed In Philadelphia Bike Accident

Emily Fredricks’ Family Wins Settlement: Donates $25,000 to BCGP

You can read her obituary here: https://rezemfh.com/tribute/de...