Drunk Driver In Gloucester Twp. Fatal Crash Charged With Manslaughter After Tripling Legal Limit: Court Docs
GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A man accused of driving drunk, speeding through a red light and causing a crash that killed another man and seriously injured the victim's wife in Gloucester Township is facing an upgraded charge of aggravated manslaughter, police said.
Marcus A. Young, 23, of Sicklerville, crashed into another vehicle in October, killing the other driver and seriously injuring the victim's wife, police said. He was previously charged with death by auto and assault by auto.
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Young's charges were upgraded Friday to first-degree aggravated manslaughter after blood tests showed he drove at more than triple the legal limit, according to court documents Patch obtained.
He was arrested Tuesday and placed in the Camden County Correctional Facility.
Young's SUV struck a sedan just before 10:15 p.m. Oct. 11 in the intersection at Berlin-Cross Keys Road and Johnson Road, police said. Both vehicles were heavily damaged.
Both people inside the sedan were brought to the hospital. The driver — Louis Bontya, 76 — later succumbed to his injuries. Bontya's wife suffered multiple fractures and a subarachnoid hemorrhage (brain bleed), but she survived, according to a criminal complaint.
Young was also injured and taken to the hospital.
Just before the crash, the suspect sped through a red light on Cross Keys Road, the complaint says. He was traveling at 89 mph just 2 seconds before the collision and then 63 mph at the time of impact, according to court documents police filed.
The posted speed limit is 45 mph, police said. Furthermore, authorities say the roadway was wet and it was misty that night.
Young's blood was drawn for testing while he was at Cooper University Hospital. His blood alcohol content (BAC) came back at 0.2626 percent — more than triple the legal limit of 0.08 percent — according to the complaint.
The manslaughter charge replaces the death by auto offense.
Young was ticketed for driving while intoxicated, speeding, reckless driving, running a red light, and failing to wear a seatbelt, according to online court records.
Young's listed defense attorney wasn't immediately available to provide comment to Patch.
Witnesses and anyone with information that may assist investigators can contact Gloucester Township police by:
- calling the Gloucester Township Police Department at 856-228-4500
- calling the GTPD Anonymous Tip Line at 856-842-5560
- texting "TIPGLOTWPPD" followed by your message to 888777
- or
