Driver Indicted In Wrong-Way Crash Death Of Teaneck Family

TEANECK, NJ — The driver who crashed into a minivan and allegedly caused the deaths of five township family members was indicted Tuesday on vehicular homicide charges.

The indictment alleges that Alvin S. Hubbard III, 45, of Cambridge, Md. operated his truck in a "criminally negligent manner" when he crossed the center median on Route 1 in Delaware and crashed into the family's minivan, killing five of the six people inside, said Julia Lawes, a Delaware Department of Justice spokesperson.

Hubbard was indicted on five counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, three counts of second-degree vehicular assault, inattentive driving, driving across a median, and failure to obey a traffic device, Lawes said.

An investigation found no evidence that drugs or alcohol played a part in the crash, Lawes said.

Six members of the Trinidad family were in the minivan. Five died: Father Audie Trinidad, 61, and daughters Kaitlyn, 20, Danna, 17, and 13-year-old twins, Melissa and Allison. The family lived in Teaneck.

Wife and mother Mary Rose Ballocoanag, 56, is the only one who survived. She was seriously injured, suffering many fractured and broken bones and continues to rehabilitate.

Her attorney Diane Luciana, says Ballocoanag is "physically and mentally unwell."

"She still can't walk and she's in physical and mental pain all the time," Luciana said. "She is in her home, surrounded by her memories. Mentally, she is not good. She cries all the time."

Mary Rose Ballocanag, 53, cradles her broken left arm at a press conference at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in Saddle Brook. (By Daniel Hubbard, Patch staff)

Ballocoanag's fractured hips are still healing and her left arm "is a mess," Luciana said. "She had multiple pins inserted and had infections in that area. Her shoulder had to be broken and reset. She is dealing with so many physical disabilities."

Ballocoanag wants to see Hubbard serve "some time in prison because what happened is so outrageous." Luciana said Ballocoanag plans on attending court proceedings and testifying when a trial is held, Luciana said, but sitting in the car for long periods of time is a problem because of Ballocoanag's injured hips.

Ballocoanag's brother has been staying with her and will continue to until January when he will go back to his home in the Philippines, Luciana said.

Nearly $300,000 has been donated to Ballocoanag on a GoFundMe page set up for her. The initial goal was to raise $10,000.

Luciana said she has not heard from Hubbard's lawyer.

Audie Trinidad's brother, Danny, did not want to comment on the charges filed against Hubbard.

The crash happened at 3:47 p.m. on Route 1 in Townsend, Del. on July 6 when the Ford F-350 pickup truck Hubbard was driving in the left-hand lane crossed a grassy center median and hit the family's minivan and a Mercury Sable, police said. The family was returning home from a vacation. (See related: Wrong-Way Driver ID'd In Delaware Crash Where 5 In NJ Family Died)

The truck entered the northbound lanes where the Sable was traveling northbound on Route 1, just north of Pine Tree Road. The Toyota minivan was traveling a short distance behind the Sable, police said.

The front driver's side of the F-350 pickup struck the left rear-side of the Sable, causing the Sable to spin out of control and come to a rest in an embankment, police said.

The F-350 pickup continued operating out-of-control southbound in the northbound lanes when the front of the Sienna struck the passenger's side of the pickup, police said.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Audie Marquez Trinidad, 61, center, and Mary Rose Ballocanag, second from left, and their daughters, Kaitlyn, 20, Danna, 17, and 13-year-old twins, Melissa and Allison. (Courtesy of GoFundMe, a promotional partner of Patch)