RARITAN BOROUGH, N.J. (Somerset County) — An 18-year-old Belle Mead man has been charged with vehicular homicide in connection with a crash that killed a Bridgewater woman in Raritan Borough, Somerset County prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Siddartha Prasad Surapanani is charged with second-degree vehicular homicide following the July 27 crash at the intersection of Route 202 and First Avenue, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities said Raritan police responded to the crash at approximately 6:29 a.m. and found a collision involving a Genesis SUV and an Acura SUV.
According to investigators, Surapanani, who was driving the Genesis, allegedly entered the intersection against a red light and struck the driver’s side of the Acura. The driver of the Acura, identified only as a female Bridgewater resident, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prosecutors allege Surapanani fled the scene on foot before being apprehended by Raritan police officers. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The investigation also found that Surapanani had allegedly been driving erratically before the crash, including traveling in the wrong direction on Route 202 at times, according to prosecutors.
Members of the Somerset County Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Raritan Police Department and the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office responded to investigate.
Surapanani was served with the criminal complaint while at the hospital. Prosecutors said he will be lodged in the Somerset County Jail upon his discharge pending a court hearing.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100 or the Raritan Police Department at 908-725-6700. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the STOPit app or the Somerset County Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).
