Man charged in fatal crash near TCNJ was trying to pass other motorists
EWING >> The man who crossed over the double yellow lines Sunday, resulting in a crash that injured seven people and killed a local college student, was trying to pass other vehicles when he made the fatal decision.
David Lamar V, 22, attempted to pass other vehicles in front of him headed southbound on Pennington Road when he crossed into the northbound traffic lane around 2 a.m. and crashed into another vehicle, according to arrest documents obtained by this newspaper.
Court documents say a victim identified by the initials M.D. suffered facial abrasions, foot abrasions and a dislocated hip.
A victim identified by the initials A.G. suffered serious brain injury, a collapsed lung and fractures in the spine, ribs, left leg and left hand.
A victim identified by the initials J.F. suffered an injured bladder and multiple spinal fractures.
A victim identified as R.M. suffered a broken pelvis, as well as traumatic brain and spinal injuries.
A victim identified as J.P. suffered a lacerated liver and multiple rib fractures.
A victim identified as D.D. suffered traumatic brain injury, a lacerated liver, a dislocated hip and a fractured femur.
And a victim identified by the initials M.S. suffered traumatic brain injury, a lacerated liver, a broken femur and other injuries. M.S. — identified publicly as Michael Sot — died of his injuries Tuesday morning.
Sot, originally from Clark and a math major at The College of New Jersey, was the designated driver and had five other people in the car with him that morning.
Lamar was traveling with one passenger in his car. Although court documents do not outline the extent of his injuries, prosecutors confirmed that Lamar has been released from the hospital and remains held in the Mercer County Correction Center while he awaits a detention hearing. Prosecutors have filed a motion to keep him locked up while the case plays out in court.
Lamar, of West Windsor, is charged with vehicular homicide and seven counts of assault by auto. Police say he was impaired while driving, but arrest documents do not say whether Lamar had been drinking alcohol or high on drugs.
A GoFundMe page established to raise money to help pay for the “cost of food, hotel rooms, medical bills” and other fees incurred as a result of the accident identifies four other crash victims as students from TCNJ:
• Danielle DeFlores, 21, an open options major from Brick.
• Matthew DeGenova, 21, an accounting major from Wall.
• Anthony Galante, 19, a finance major from North Bellmore, New York.
• Ryan Moore, 21, a marketing major from Midland Park.
The status of the victims’ health is not known at this time.