18-Year-Old Charged In Crash That Killed South Brunswick Custodian

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – An 18-year-old was charged in connection with the crash that resulted in the death of a South Brunswick school employee, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Raymond Hayducka of the South Brunswick Police Department said Friday.

Shamantha Bolla, 18, of Monmouth Junction was charged with one count of second-degree reckless death by auto, Ciccone said.

Dean Battaglia, 53, was spraying weeds along a curb at Crossroads North Middle School on Georges Road when he was struck by a car on June 15. Police and EMS attempted life-saving efforts but he was pronounced dead at the scene. More: District Employee Struck, Killed Outside School In South Brunswick

An investigation by Officer Jesse Blake of the South Brunswick Police Department and Detective Jonathan Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined a vehicle driven by Bolla struck Battaglia, Ciccone said.

Bolla was arrested and charged on Thursday, Ciccone said.

The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Blake of the South Brunswick Police Department at (732) 329-4000 X 7474 or Detective Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4328.

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