South Brunswick Man Sentenced To 11 Years For Causing Crash

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A South Brunswick resident was sentenced to 11 years for his role in causing a serious crash in North Brunswick that left multiple people injured last year, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Joseph Battaglia of the North Brunswick Police said.

According to an investigation, on August 8, 2020, around 8:50 p.m., Christopher L. Mertens, 42, of Monmouth Junction was driving while intoxicated. The investigation determined Mertens, accompanied by his two young children, was travelling southbound on Route 1 at high speed when he rear ended a 2003 Chevrolet Blazer causing it to roll over and catch fire.

The driver of the Blazer, a 19-year-old man, sustained burn injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, police said. The passenger of the Blazer, a 21-year-old woman, along with Mertens’ children were also taken for medical treatment, Ciccone said.

Mertens was arrested and charged the next day with second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree assault by auto, third-degree endangering another person by knowingly engaging in conduct which creates a substantial risk of death, three counts of fourth-degree assault by auto, and fourth-degree obstruction.

On October 27, following sentencing arguments from Assistant Prosecutor Keith Abrams and Assistant Prosecutor Kaitlyn Poggi, Mertens to sentenced to 11 years in state prison by judge Craig Corson on one count of second-degree aggravated assault, two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, one count of third-degree aggravated assault, and one count of fourth-degree causing serious bodily injury.

Mertens must serve 85 percent of his sentence, approximately nine-and-a-half years before he is eligible for parole, officials said. Upon release, he will be subject to an eight-year loss of license.

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