Top Jefferson Stories of 2013

1. Driver in Fatal Crash: I Was 'Probably Twice the Legal Limit'

Jefferson Patch readers were riveted most by the tragic story of an Aug. 24 motor vehicle crash that flipped an SUV carrying nine people and ultimately killed Lucila Colon, 62, Tevia Booth, 11, Julissa Colon, 36, and her unborn child. Mixed with collective sadness was outrage over Jersey City resident Luis Torres, the driver charged with three counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, three counts of second-degree vehicular homicide and five counts of fourth-degree assault by auto. According to an arrest affidavit, Torres explained his role in the Route 15 accident by telling police he was "probably twice the legal limit" and had smoked marijuana the day before. 

2. Baseball Bat Killing, Police Screaming Match, Mountain Lion Sighting Top State News

Our state news roundups are a consistently popular go-to for Jefferson Patch readers, and this one was the most-read of the year. From the final week of August, this installment features a lot of tragedy, including a 30-year-old woman with possible mental health issues allegedly beat her mother to death with a baseball bat; a young college sophomore from the region died in her dorm room at Villanova University; and the Route 15 car crash that killed three people and an unborn baby. But there were also the uplifting story of a woman planning her wedding despite a cancer diagnosis; a preview of the U.S. Senate race debate between then-Newark Mayor (now U.S. Sen.) Cory Booker and Republican nominee Steve Lonegan; and the governor joking about college expenses while sending one of his children off to Princeton University.

3. River Styx Co-Owner Head of Heroin Network, Cops Say

Jefferson resident John Davieau received a lot of headlines in 2013 after being exposed as the alleged kingpin of a heroin ring that distributed the drug throughout Morris, Essex and Sussex counties. The base of the ring, according to police, was a restaurant marketed as a family-friendly destination, Hopatcong's River Styx Grill. Following the arrests of restaurant owner Davieau and six others, the story continued as the restaurant tried reopening, the Grill was put up for sale as part of a deal with law enforcement, the legal process progressed, damning testimony was recorded against Davieau, citizens fought back and Davieau pleaded guilty.

4. Fatal Accident on Route 15 Under Investigation

Another headline that grabbed notice was one telling the story of another Route 15 vehicle accident, this one a single-car crash near Weldon Road in Lake Hopatcong. The driver, who was not identified, died in the incident.

5. Dead Body Found at Fireman's Field

Patch readers were drawn to the story of residents who were enjoying a day at Fireman's Field when they happened upon a gruesome sight: the body of a dead 31-year-old local man. The Jefferson Township Police Department found nothing that appeared suspicious about the matter.