4 Killed, Including Unborn Baby, in Route 15 Crash

A Jersey City man was charged with multiple counts of aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide after he crashed his SUV that was carrying a total of nine occupants, authorities said.


Lucila Colon, 62, and Tevia Booth, 11, were pronounced dead at the scene. Julissa Colon, 36, and her unborn child died at Morristown Medical Center from injuries sustained in the crash according to a joint press release from Morris County Acting Prosecutor Fredric Knapp and Jefferson Township Police Chief Kevin Craig. 

Luis Torres, 37, was 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, Knapp said. He was sent to the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of $750,000 bail.

UPDATE: Torres told authorities he "was probably twice the legal limit" when he got behind the wheel Saturday, according to an arrest affidavit.

Torres was driving a 2002 Ford Explorer just before 7 p.m. Saturday on Route 15 South, near the intersection of Heller's Lane, when he suddenly swerved and drove off the road, according to Knapp. The vehicle overturned and several people were ejected from the car.

Torres and many passengers were sent to St. Clare's Dover Hospital. 

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Jefferson Township Police Department at 973-697-1300.