Somerset Man Charged In 2020 Death Of Driver On Atlantic City Expressway

SOMERSET, NJ — A Somerset man was charged recently in connection with a fatal crash on the Atlantic City Expressway in 2020.

On Friday, March 31, Nikhil Branscomb, 28, of Somerset, was charged and arrested for first-degree aggravated manslaughter based on his involvement in the motor vehicle crash in Hammonton that resulted in the death of 20-year-old Justin Santos-Torres, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

On July 19, 2020, at 2:15 a.m., Santos-Torres was killed on the Atlantic City Expressway when
his vehicle went off the roadway and overturned after being hit by a vehicle allegedly
being driven by Branscomb, according to the police report.

An investigation revealed Branscomb’s vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and he was also allegedly under the influence of alcohol, according to police.

This fatal crash investigation was conducted by the New Jersey State Police Atlantic City Expressway Barracks and the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Unit, with assistance from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Crash Investigations Unit.

Anyone with information regarding serious crimes is asked to contact the Atlantic County
Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at ACPO.Tips
and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page.

People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the
Crime Stoppers Website at crimestoppersatlantic.com. Crime Stoppers offers cash
rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in
Atlantic County.

These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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