Charge Upgraded Against Driver In Deadly Father's Day Crash
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Prosecutors have upgraded the charges filed against an alleged drunken driver who they say caused a fatal head-on crash in central New Jersey last weekend (see related story).
Twenty-seven-year-old Manuel Gutierrez Vazquez of Camden initially was charged with death by auto and two counts of assault by auto stemming from the crash on Route 29 in Hamilton that killed 28-year-old Jorge DeLeon and seriously injured his two young children.
But one of the assault by auto counts was upgraded to death by auto after DeLeon's 4-year-old daughter died this week from injuries she suffered in the crash (see related story). DeLeon's 7-year-old son is expected to recover from his injuries.
Authorities say Vazquez was driving drunk and traveling in the wrong direction when he crashed into DeLeon's vehicle. Vazquez suffered an arm injury in the crash.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
