Fatal Hillsborough Head-On Crash Leads To Reckless Vehicular Homicide Charge

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — An Old Bridge man has been charged in connection with the death of a Flemington woman after police said he was speeding when he crossed into oncoming traffic causing the fatal crash in Hillsborough.

Jaden Brandon Ramos, 20, of Old Bridge Township, was charged with second-degree reckless vehicular homicide and fourth-degree assault-by-auto following the fatal crash on July 22, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P.McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Hillsborough Township Chief of Police Michael McMahon.

On Friday, July 22 at around 4 p.m., Hillsborough Police were called to a two-car crash with injuries in the area of Amwell Road and Cemetery Lane in the Neshanic section of Hillsborough Township.

Police found a black 2016 Mercedes Benz at facing southeast in the westbound lane with extensive front-end collision damages. The driver of the Mercedes, identified as an adult Flemington man, had serious left leg injuries and was taken to an area trauma center.

The lone passenger in the Mercedes, a 74-year-old Flemington woman, was also taken to an area trauma center where she was later pronounced dead at 5:49 p.m. from injuries from the crash, said McDonald.

The second car involved in the fatal crash, a blue 2007 Dodge Charger, was found about 30 feet off the westbound side of Amwell Road with extensive front-end damage, said McDonald.

The lone driver of the Charger, identified as Ramos, was conscious and alert, and was also taken to an area trauma center with complaints of hip pain, according to authorities.

An investigation found that Ramos had been driving eastbound on Amwell Road when he tried to pass another eastbound vehicle, in a no-passing zone, and into oncoming westbound traffic, when he crashed head-on with the Mercedes Benz driving west, said McDonald.

Two witnesses at the scene said Ramos' Charger was going well above the posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour and in the westbound lane at the time of the fatal crash.

Additional forensic evidence analyzed by the CAR-Team found that Ramos' Charger was driving between 65 to 67 mph at the time of impact with the Mercedes.

If convicted of the second-degree charge Ramos could be sentenced to between 5 and 10 years in State Prison with 85 percent to be served without parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act. If convicted of the fourth-degree assault charge, Ramos could serve an additional 18
months of incarceration.

Ramos surrendered voluntarily without incident to Hillsborough Township Police at Headquarters on Thursday, Aug. 11 just before 9 a.m.

Ramos was taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-575-3300, the Hillsborough Township Police Department at 908-369-4323 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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