PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – A garbage truck driver has been sentenced in connection with a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred in Pequannock Township in May, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.
Angel Caraballo-Maldona, 45, of Newark was sentenced on Oct. 27 before the Honorable Ralph E. Amirata, J.S.C. to four years in New Jersey State Prison subject to 85 percent parole ineligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act.
Caraballo-Maldona had previously entered a guilty plea to second degree Reckless Vehicular Homicide before Judge Amirata on Aug. 29, Carroll said.
The crash happened on May 8, at around 5:18 a.m., at the intersection of Route 23 North and Alexander Avenue, Carroll said.
The investigation revealed the Traverse was stopped at a red light when it was struck from behind by a garbage truck, driven by Caraballo-Maldona, and then the Traverse caught fire, Carroll said.
The unconscious Traverse driver was pulled from the vehicle by the garbage truck driver and a bystander. Rescue efforts were unsuccessfully attempted by patrol officers and medical personnel, and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene, Carroll said.
Video surveillance revealed Caraballo-Maldona was utilizing his cell phone at the time of the crash, and he was subsequently charged with second-degree reckless vehicular homicide, Carroll said.
