Hawthorne Man Charged in Fatal Farmer's Market Crash

The driver of the pickup truck that caused the fatal crash at the Hawthorne Farmer’s Market has been charged with death by vehicular homicide, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.

James T. Woetzel, 48, drove through a barricade at the farmer’s market killing a Hawthorne woman and injuring two others.

Donna Wine, 58 was killed as a result of the crash. Bailey Hildebrant, 21 was injured in the crash along with another victim.

Woetzel drove through the barricades of the Farmer’s Market on Grand Avenue dragging Wine half a mile before finally stopping on Lafayette Street.

The driver of the red Dodge Ram pickup truck has also been charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident that resulted in death. Both charges are second degree crimes carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.

The Hawthorne Police Department and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crime Units are still investigating the circumstances of the incident, according to Major Crime Unit Chief Assistant Prosecutor Michael DeMarco.

Woetzel’s bail has been set at $200,000 and he has not been given the option of paying 10 percent of the bail amount to secure his release, according to authorities.

Photo Credit: NBC New York