Drunken Driver Faces Judge After Fatal Morris Co. Crash

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A drunken driver responsible for the death of his front-seat passenger learned his fate in court this week, prosecutors say.

On Thursday, Alexander Serrano, 34, of East Rutherford, was sentenced to prison for his role in a crash in Roxbury that took the life of a 30-year-old woman.

On April 28, 2025, police were called to the scene of a collision on Howard Road near the intersection of Ledgewood and Mt. Arlington roads in Roxbury around 5:30 a.m. When police arrived, they found that a Chevy Express van had sustained heavy damage after crashing into a tree.

The front passenger of the van — identified by authorities as Esmerelda Melchar of East Rutherford — was pronounced dead at the scene.

Serrano, who was driving the van, exhibited signs of being under the influence following the crash, prosecutors said. He was taken to the hospital for treatment before authorities moved him to the Morris County Correctional Facility.

The day after the crash, Serrano was charged with reckless vehicular homicide. He pleaded guilty to the charge nearly a year later, on April 13.

On Thursday, Serrano was sentenced to five years in prison and is subject to the No Early Release Act.