Florida Man Sentenced 6 Years After Fatal Passaic County Car Crash

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — A Florida man has been sentenced after he was found guilty of causing a fatal car crash in Passaic County six years ago.

Alvin W. Mootoo, 53, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced last week after being found guilty of death by auto/reckless vehicular homicide and assault by auto in May of this year.

On Jan. 2, 2019, Mootoo was arrested after an investigation into a car accident in Paterson that left one dead and two injured.

According to authorities, Mootoo was traveling 30 miles over the speed limit near 18th Avenue and East 24th Street when he ran a stop sign, striking another car.

Mootoo’s Buick Encore flipped and hit pedestrian Jorge Alberto Pena-Mesa. Pena-Mesa was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead the following day.

Mootoo was reportedly told by doctors a year earlier that he should not be behind the wheel due to a seizure condition.

Mootoo was sentenced to nine years in prison by Judge Marilyn C. Clark on Aug. 20. He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he’s eligible for release. When released, he will be on parole supervision for three years.

Mootoo is also required to pay $5,100 in restitution.