Authorities charged a Maryland man with vehicular homicide after a one-vehicle crash on the New Jersey Turnpike left two teenagers dead last week.
Cesar I. Martinez Andino, 19, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was driving an SUV northbound in Harrison Township in Gloucester County around 1 a.m. on May 18 when he lost control of the vehicle, according to New Jersey State Police.
The SUV left the roadway to the right, slid down an embankment and struck a tree. Four of the six occupants were thrown from the vehicle, police said.
Juan Carlos Munguia-Palma, 19, and a 14-year-old boy, both of Maryland, died as a result of the crash, police said.
The driver and two other passengers were seriously injured, while the sixth occupant suffered moderate injuries.
At the scene, Martinez Andino identified himself as the driver, police said, and a check revealed he was unlicensed.
Numerous empty beer bottles and a mixed drink cocktail were spotted in the vehicle, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed with the charges.
Toxicology results on the driver are pending, police said.
A pink cellphone recovered outside of the SUV near the crash scene was recording video when it was located, police said in the affidavit. A video of the crash was recorded on the phone, police said.
The video showed Martinez Andino driving recklessly, using a cellphone while driving and nearly hitting another vehicle before the crash, police said in the affidavit.
Martinez Andino was charged with two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide and two counts each of third-degree child endangerment, assault by auto and causing death while driving with a suspended license. He also faces two fourth-degree counts of causing serious injury while driving with a suspended license and a fourth-degree charge of assault by auto.
Court records did not list an attorney for Martinez Andino on Tuesday. He remains hospitalized because of his injuries, an official said.
Stories by Matt Gray
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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
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