Driver Charged After Striking Family In Golf Cart At Wildwood Rally

WILDWOOD, NJ — Charges have been filed against another driver in connection with the unsanctioned pop-up H2oi car event, officials said.

Eryk R. Wnek, 22, from Linden, was charged with aggravated assault and assault by auto, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and Wildwood Police Chief Robert Regalbuto said.

Wnek was the at-fault driver in a motor vehicle crash with a golf cart on Sept. 24, officials said.

Wnek is now the second person charged in relation to the car rally. Gerald J. White, 37, of Pittsburgh, was charged with two counts of death by auto in the crash that happened Friday night during the H2oi event. Read More: Outrage After 2 Killed In Unsanctioned Jersey Shore Car Rally

The crash happened at about 9:23 p.m. around Rio Grande and Park Boulevard, police said.

Wnek was driving a 2020 BMW that did a burnout (keeping a car stationary while spinning its wheels), collided with another vehicle and then struck a golf cart carrying six people, officials said.

Erhan Bayram, 31, of Williamstown, was driving the golf cart and was airlifted to Atlantic City Medical Center where he remains critical, but stable, officials said.

Jessica Klepacz and four juveniles who were passengers were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Wnek was arrested in Linden on Sept. 26 and was taken back to Wildwood Police Department where he was processed and sits in the Cape May County Correctional Facility pending court proceedings, officials said.

The circumstances around the event are still being investigated and additional charges could be filed, Sutherland said.

Sutherland urged anyone with information regarding this motor vehicle crash to contact the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 465-1135, or the information can be reported anonymously through the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office Anonymous TIP System by visiting cmcpo.tips from any computer, tablet, or smart phone. Information can also be reported to the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers, 609-889-3597.