Traffic & Transit
Ex-NJ Assemblyman Alberto Coutinho Dies In Newark Car Crash, 2nd Driver Injured
Alberto Coutinho was a "giant" in the Portuguese community and was known for helping others, a mourner said.
NEWARK, NJ -- Alberto Coutinho, a former state assemblyman in North Jersey, died in a car crash in Newark on Sunday morning, authorities say.
The fatal, two-car crash took place around 7:30 a.m. near McCarter Highway and South Street, according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the Newark Department of Public Safety.
Coutinho, 56, of Newark, was taken to University Hospital and pronounced deceased at 8:02 a.m.
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The driver of the other vehicle was also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
No additional details about the crash were immediately available.
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Authorities said anyone with information can contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.
Coutinho formerly represented the state's 29th district in the New Jersey Assembly. He formerly served on the Newark planning and zoning boards, and also served as an Essex County Utilities Authority commissioner.
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said Coutinho was a "giant" in Essex County and the Portuguese community, and was known for dedicating himself to the development of youth soccer programs and helping others in the community that he loved.
"More importantly, he was devoted to his family and was a true friend," DiVincenzo said.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka also mourned the late state lawmaker.
"Al fought for job creation, recreational space and workforce reentry reforms, all of which helped strengthen our city," Baraka said. "But more than that, Al was a central pillar of our Portuguese community, the Ironbound, and the city at large."
As an avid soccer fan, Coutinho prioritized his role as a soccer coach for local youth, the mayor said.
The annual Portuguese Day Festival was established by his family and overseen enthusiastically by Coutinho every year, Baraka added.
"On behalf of the people of Newark, I send my heartfelt condolences to his family, our Ironbound neighbors and all who have been touched by the generous spirit of this remarkable man," Baraka said.
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