On January 26, 2020, at approximately 5:50 p.m., the New Jersey State Police was dispatched to the area of mile marker 64 southbound on the Garden State Parkway for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash. Investigation revealed that a 2012 Honda Civic operated by Michelle Roselli, a Virginia resident, failed to maintain its lane of travel and struck a 2001 Toyota Scion operated by Kathy Nguyen, 32, of Bayville.
A juvenile passenger was seated in the front passenger seat of the Scion, and Mr. Nguyen and Ms. Duong were seated in the rear of the Scion. The collision caused the Scion to leave the roadway and veer off to a wooded area and strike several trees.
As a result of the crash, all four passengers of the Scion were transported to Hackensack Meridian Health Southern Ocean Medical Center in Stafford Township.
Kathy Nguyen and the juvenile passenger were treated for their injuries and released. Mr. Nguyen and Ms. Duong – both of whom suffered more serious injuries – were thereafter airlifted to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Pomona.
On February 22, 2020, Mr. Nguyen succumbed to the injuries he suffered as a result of the crash. Ms. Duong remains in a Rehabilitation Facility recovering from her injuries.
Responding Troopers observed that Roselli appeared to be intoxicated at the scene of the crash. Based upon those observations, Troopers attempted to administer the standardized field sobriety tests (FSTs) to Roselli. Roselli was unable to successfully perform the FSTs; as such, she was charged with Driving Under the Influence on January 26, 2020.
In furtherance of the investigation, Roselli was transported to Hackensack Meridian Health Southern Ocean Medical Center. A search warrant was obtained for a draw of her blood; laboratory results from the blood draw, later received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, revealed the presence of 8.6 nanograms of Fentanyl in her system at the time of the crash – rendering her unfit to safely operate a motor vehicle. This fact, coupled with the death of Mr. Nguyen on February 22 2020, resulted in Roselli being charged with Vehicular Homicide and Assault by Auto on March 13, 2020.
On March 20, 2020, Roselli surrendered herself to the New Jersey State Police Barracks in Galloway Township. She was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Now, Roselli has pleaded guilty to the charges and faces six years in prison.