A Rahway woman who crashed into a pick-up on Routes 1&9 two weeks ago, killing the truck’s driver, has became the first person in Essex County to be charged with vehicular homicide allegedly caused by texting, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said.
Jennifer Sahoye, 35, was initially charged with causing the Oct. 10 death of Carlos Carvalho, 58, while driving on a suspended license. But prosecutors say witnesses saw Sahoye texting when her Volvo sedan veered from the southbound express lanes of Routes 1&9, near the Route 78 interchange, into the southbound local lanes, striking Carvalho’s Ford pickup Carvalho, a welder, was on his way home from work. He was ejected from the truck after it flipped over and was pronounced dead at the scene. Prosecutors say their investigation, aided by witnesses who stopped after the crash, confirmed Sahoye was texting at the time of the crash. "A vehicle is a dangerous thing and driving requires the full attention of the driver," said Thomas Fennelly, the chief assistant prosecutor for Essex County. "Texting can take one's eyes off the road." Carvalho's family did not find out Sahoye was alleged to be... |
