Union County Man Pleads Guilty To 'Alcohol-Fueled' Crash That Killed FDNY Veteran

A 25-year-old Elizabeth man pled guilty on Monday for the crash that killed a FDNY veteran on his motorcycle last October.

According to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office:

An Elizabeth man has admitted to causing an alcohol-fueled crash that took the life of a veteran FDNY firefighter last fall, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Monday.

Anthony Marsal, 25, on Monday pleaded guilty to a single count of death by auto before state Superior Court Judge Stuart Peim in connection with the death of 57-year-old John W. Monteverde of Queens, N.Y.

It was around 5:15 a.m. on Friday, October 11, 2013 when Union Township police responded to a report of an accident in the area of North Avenue and Vivian Terrace.

A joint investigation by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Union Township Police Department determined that Marsal, who was driving a white 1996 Honda Accord, made a left turn off of Vivian Terrace onto North Avenue, cutting off the 2004 Suzuki motorcycle being driven by Monteverde.

Monteverde, a FDNY veteran with more than three decades of service, was thrown from his vehicle and died of multiple internal and external injuries. He had been on his way to his firehouse on Staten Island at the time of the crash.

Toxicology tests later revealed that Marsal’s blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit shortly after he was arrested.

Marsal, who had no prior criminal history, is expected to receive a term of five years in state prison when he is sentenced later this year. Under the provisions of New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, he will be required to serve at least 85 percent of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

After being released from prison Marsal also will be placed on parole supervision for a period of three years and will forfeit his driver’s license for five years.