Brothers Were Racing Luxury Cars When They Crashed, Injuring 2 In Jersey City: Prosecutor

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Two brothers in their 20s from Jersey City have been charged with assault by auto after a Mercedes driven by one brother crashed into a Toyota on a county road last year, injuring a passenger. Prosecutors said they believed the brothers were racing, ultimately causing the crash.

The Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit charged Justin Crespo, 25, and Marc Crespo, 26, of Jersey City on Wednesday with:

• Justin Crespo: aggravated assault, assault by auto
• Marc Crespo: aggravated assault and assault by auto, "based on accomplice liability."

Both men are being held at the Hudson County jail pending a court appearance.

An investigation by the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit found that at
approximately 6:20 p.m. on June 5, 2021, Justin Crespo was operating a Mercedes Benz sedan in the northbound lanes of Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City when he collided with a Toyota Highlander, prosecutors said.

The 34-year-old driver of the Toyota was trying to make a left turn, prosecutors said.

When the Mercedes crashed into the Toyota, a 44-year-old Passaic man was ejected from the vehicle and suffered life-threatening injuries, prosecutors said.

Both drivers were treated for minor injuries at Jersey City Medical Center.

A third vehicle, a Nissan Maxima, was also involved in the collision and the driver refused medical attention at the scene.

Five unoccupied vehicles were also damaged as a result of the collision, prosecutors said.

"The investigation determined Justin Crespo was racing his brother, Marc Crespo, who was
operating a BMW sedan, in the moments leading up to the collision," prosecutors said in a press release.

Prosecutor Esther Suarez credited the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit and the Jersey City Police Department with the investigation.