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The sole survivor of a NJ car accident that killed three passengers on December 12, 2013 is under guard at a local hospital and will face charges of drunk driving, police say.
The fatal Lawrence Township crash occurred just before 1:00 a.m. on I-95 southbound near the interchange for I-295 northbound. Police reports indicate that 19-year-old Luis Delcid-Cardona of Hamilton was driving in the center lane when he lost control of the car and spun out. The Volkswagen GTS was launched from the roadway onto the Route 1 ramp and collided with a parked tractor-trailer, where the vehicle became wedged.
Investigators at the scene indicated that the two passengers in the back seat, 20-year-old Nicole Rodrogues and 18-year-old Samantha Belliveau, were ejected from the vehicle upon impact. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene.
New Jersey State Police have said that the 19-year-old front seat passenger, Jonathan Rivas of Princeton, died Thursday afternoon at the Capital Health-Trenton.
Police have said that although Delcid-Cardona was also seriously injured in the crash, he attempted to flee the scene before authorities arrived. The driver was discovered a short time later and arrested on a suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Rivas was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash, but the two female passengers were unrestrained. Investigators have not said whether speed or road conditions were suspected factors in the crash.
The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office may file more charges against Delcid-Cardona after he is released from the hospital. His bail has been set at $1 million.
The staff at MFR Law Office will be keeping the family and friends of all of the victims of this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers, and urge all drivers to stay safe this holiday season.