CHATHAM BOROUGH, N.J. (Morris County) — A Chatham Township man has been charged with second-degree reckless vehicular homicide in connection with a fatal motor vehicle crash that killed a pedestrian last month in Chatham Borough, authorities announced.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally and Chatham Borough Police Chief Brian Gibbons said Matthew Vining, 29, was charged following an investigation into the crash, which occurred at about 12:07 p.m. Jan. 2, 2026, on Fairmount Avenue.
Police said officers and first responders were dispatched to a collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. Investigators determined that a Ford F-150 traveling south on Fairmount Avenue struck a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, a 54-year-old, was transported to a hospital, where the victim was pronounced dead. Authorities said the victim’s name and identity are not being released at this time.
Vining was identified at the scene as the driver of the Ford F-150. As a result of the investigation, he was charged Feb. 4, 2026, with one count of second-degree reckless vehicular homicide. He was also charged with multiple motor vehicle offenses, authorities said.
On Feb. 5, Vining was granted pretrial release with special conditions, including surrendering his passport, signing a waiver of extradition and having no contact with victims. He is scheduled to appear for a pre-indictment conference March 23 before Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Taylor.
The investigation involved the Chatham Borough Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit.
“This arrest reflects the thorough, methodical work of the officers and investigators who responded to this tragic crash from the very first moments. Our patrol officers, detectives, and support personnel worked diligently at the scene and throughout the investigation to preserve evidence, document critical facts, and ensure this case was handled with the seriousness it deserved,” Gibbons said. “I am especially grateful for the close coordination and professionalism demonstrated by our partners at the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. Through this collaborative effort, our law enforcement partners were able to secure appropriate charges. While nothing can undo the loss suffered by the victim’s family and our community, we remain committed to thoroughly investigating all serious motor vehicle crashes and, when the evidence supports allegations of distracted or reckless driving, holding unsafe drivers accountable for their actions.”
Authorities said anyone with information related to the investigation is encouraged to contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200.
