Jackson man indicted for vehicular homicide
A grand jury issued an indictment last week charging a Jackson man with manslaughter and vehicular homicide in connection with the death of 22-year-old Deja Farrior-Quinones.
A Mercer County grand jury issued a 15-count indictment charging 23-year-old Chandler Heaviside with aggravated manslaughter, eluding, several counts of death by auto, resisting arrest, aggravated assault on law enforcement and several drug and motor vehicle offenses related to the young woman’s death.
In September last year, Heaviside led state police on a high-speed chase from Trenton into Hamilton and crashed into Farrior-Quinones’ car, resulting in her death. Motor Vehicle Commission officials confirmed at the time that Heaviside’s New Jersey driver’s license had been suspended a total of nine times for various reasons including operating under
the influence of liquor or drugs, nonpayment of insurance surcharges, violation of the Comprehensive Drug Reform Act, failure to comply with court installed orders and driving while his license is suspended or revoked.
Heaviside has also had a total of five driving violations ever since obtaining a license in NJ for various offenses including failure to observe a traffic device, speeding, operating under the influence of liquor or drugs and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Heaviside’s license was suspended at the time, and
prosecutors say he was under the influence of drugs during the fatal crash.
Farrior-Quinones was driving a Honda Civic when she was struck by a Chevy Trailblazer being pursued by police after an illegal drug transaction in Trenton. Heaviside was driving the Chevy, officials say, and had two passengers in the vehicle with him as he led state police on a high-speed chase that concluded with the fatal crash at the intersection of South Broad Street and West Park Avenue in Hamilton shortly before 10 p.m.
Officials say state police ended their pursuit of Heaviside’s vehicle at Whitehorse Circle as the Trailblazer continued on Broad Street before crashing into Farrior’s Honda, pushing it into a telephone pole.
Following the crash, Heaviside tried to flee the scene but was quickly apprehended. Police then found a bundle of heroin in the Chevy, and they also found heroin in Heaviside’s pockets when they searched him.
Heaviside remains in the Mercer County Correction Center.