Fanwood Man Was High On Drugs During Fatal Union Crash: UCPO

FANWOOD, NJ — A Fanwood man was high on drugs when he crashed his vehicle head-on into another car killing a 94-year-old woman and injuring two others in June, authorities said.

Thomas J. Dinapoli, 52, is charged with second-degree death by auto while under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance and two counts of fourth-degree assault by auto while under the influence, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Union Police Director Daniel Zieser jointly announced.

On June 4, Dinapoli was driving a 2010 Mazda east on the 1700 block of Morris Avenue in Union when he crossed over double-yellow lines and rammed head-on into a 2008 Chevrolet Impala, according to the investigation by the Union Police Department and Union County Homicide Task Force.

All three people inside the Impala were injured and taken to Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth. Michelina Mele, 94, was pronounced dead the next day, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Bruce Holmes, who is prosecuting the case.

Dinapoli was later found to have both cocaine and clonazepam, a powerful tranquilizer, in his system at the time of the crash, according to the report.

He was arrested and taken to Union County Jail pending a first appearance and detention hearing scheduled to take place in Superior Court.

Dinapoli faces 5 to 10 years in state prison on the second-degree criminal charges.

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