Iselin Man Admits Driving Drunk, On Snapchat In 156 MPH Fatal Crash

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A 24-year-old man from Woodbridge admitted he was drunk driving a Tesla at speeds of 156 miles per hour — and recording a Snapchat video — when he drove into the back of a 22-year-old woman's car on the New York State Thruway, causing her car to burst into flames and killing her, according to Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares.

Vasu Laroiya is from the Iselin section of Woodbridge. He is a former Rutgers student.

He pleaded guilty on Tuesday of this week in Albany County, NY court to one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, a felony. He had previously been indicted on murder and manslaughter charges, but he took a plea deal.

The fatal accident happened at 10 p.m. on May 28, 2022 (Memorial Day weekend) on the New York State Thruway/I-87 near the town of Colonie, NY. In that area, the Thruway is called the Northway.

Laroiya admitted he was driving at speeds of 156 miles per hour and using his cell phone to make a Snapchat video. That's when he drove into the back of a car driven by a New York state woman, Katie Fisher, 22, said the district attorney.

Fisher was from Ballston Spa, New York and she was a junior at the University of Albany, according to her obituary.

CBS News in Albany reports that Laroiya was driving a Tesla. Fisher was driving a Honda Civic. The impact of getting rear-ended caused her car to crash into the guardrail and then burst into flames. She was rushed to a hospital, but died there.

Also, as part of his guilty Laroiya admitted to having a prior alcohol-related conviction in New Jersey in 2019, according to the district attorney.

Two months after the crash, an Albany County grand jury indicted Laroiya on a murder charge for Fisher's death: Second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter (as well as DWI and reckless driving charges).

The murder charge would have carried life in prison had he been convicted at trial.

In 2023, Laroiya took a plea deal to the lesser charge of aggravated vehicular homicide. Sentencing is scheduled for January 26 and he is facing eight to 25 years in state prison.

When Laroiya gets out of prison, he will be subject to permanently losing his driver's license, and the installation of an ignition interlock device.

Fisher's family was in the courtroom Tuesday when Laroiya pleaded guilty.

Shawn Fisher, Katie's father, told local news in Albany the guilty plea does not bring true justice for his daughter. He said he thinks New York state should charge violent and reckless vehicle crimes such as this similar to violent gun crimes.

“Vehicular crimes like this should be considered violent crimes, just like gun crimes, and the laws need to be changed to reflect that,” her grieving father said.

Her father also told the Albany Times-Union that his daughter driving on the interstate was “My biggest fear."

Here is the obituary for the young woman, who was studying to become a teacher, after getting her associates degree at SUNY Adirondack and then graduating to the University of Albany. She was driving home from a friend's house when she was killed.