Driver Charged In Jersey City Crash That Killed Passenger, 30

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jose Colon, 31, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated and aggravated manslaughter Wednesday in connection with a car crash that killed his 30-year-old passenger in Jersey City in February.

According to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, at 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 28, Jersey City police and the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit responded to a serious motor vehicle crash on Christopher Columbus Drive near the Merseles Street split.

According to the initial investigation, the driver was traveling westbound on Columbus Drive approaching the roadway split, when his 1996 Honda Civic, struck the attenuator-protected guard rail.

The Prosecutor's Office said that the passenger, later identified as Jesus Gonzalez, age 30, of Jersey City, was found in a lifeless condition at the scene. The driver was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center in critical condition.

Colon, of Jersey City, was arrested and charged at approximately 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City after he turned himself in with his attorney.

He was charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, as well as first-degree vehicular homicide/DWI on or near school property.

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

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