Somerset Man Sentenced In Fatal Route 9 Crash

SOMERSET, NJ — A Somerset man was sentenced to 12 years in state prison for killing a father and injuring the rest of the family when he crashed into their vehicle while trying to flee from police in a stolen car, said Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Old Bridge Acting Police Chief, Donald F. Fritz, Jr.

Samuel Villar, 19, of Somerset, pled guilty on June 14 and was sentenced on Dec. 4 with the No Early Release Act (NERA) for first-degree aggravated manslaughter. His sentence will run concurrent to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison for four counts of second-degree aggravated assault, and 10 years in prison for second-degree eluding.

Villar must serve 85 percent of his 12-year sentence before being eligible for parole. Villar will be on parole supervision for 5 years upon his release from prison and his driver's license will also be suspended for two years.

On Nov. 9, 2022, at around 2:14 a.m., the Old Bridge Police Department went to a crash that happened during a pursuit by Marlboro Police, near the intersection of Spring Valley Road and Route 9 South.

As a result of the crash, Arturo Tlapa Luna, 33, of Freehold, was pronounced dead on scene and members of his family had serious injuries. Read More: Beloved Dad From Freehold Dies In Car Crash; Community Responds

An investigation by the Old Bridge Police Department, the Marlboro Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, determined that the pursuit that resulted in the fatal crash was related to a vehicle burglary investigation in Marlboro involving a stolen vehicle.

The investigation revealed that Villar, while fleeing police in a stolen vehicle, ran a red light at the
intersection and struck multiple vehicles.

Related: Audio, Video Released In Update Of Fatal Marlboro Police Chase Probe

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