A NEW YORK MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED IN CONNECTION TO JUNE 5, 2021 AUTO ACCIDENT IN RINGWOOD, NEW JERSEY
" Derrick Valerio Of Yonkers, New York Has Been Charged With Assault By Auto Charges In Connection To June 5, 2021 Auto Accident In Ringwood, New Jersey."
July 7, 2021 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
RINGWOOD, NJ.- Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Ringwood Police Chief Peter McGinity announced that based on an investigation by The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office in Conjunction with The Ringwood Police Department, Derrick Valerio 33, of Yonkers, New York was arrested on Tuesday July 6, 2021, in connection to a motor vehicle accident that took place on June 5, 2021, on Greenwood Lake Turnpike near the intersection of Stonetown Road in Ringwood, New Jersey.
Mr. Valerio has been charged with Third Degree Assault by Auto and Fourth Degree Assault by Auto. Mr. Valerio was arrested without incident at The Ringwood Police Department.
On Saturday June 5, 2021, Mr. Valerio was driving a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the wrong direction on The Greenwood Lake Turnpike when he collided with a 2003 Infiniti I35. The Infiniti I35 was being operated by Mr. Kevin Schaeffer, 19, of Hewitt, New Jersey, and was also occupied by Ms. Riley Lindholm, 22, of Rock Hill, New York.
Mr. Schaeffer was not injured in the crash, but Ms. Lindholm was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, where she received treatment for serious injuries. Mr. Valerio was transported to Chilton Medical Center in Pequannock, New Jersey where he received treatment for minor injuries. The subsequent investigation revealed that at the time of the crash, Mr. Valerio was under the influence of alcohol and was traveling 106 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone.
The Sentencing Exposure on Third Degree Assault by Auto is Three to Five Years in New Jersey State Prison and on Fourth Degree Assault by Auto is up to Eighteen Months in New Jersey State Prison.
Following his arrest, Mr. Valerio was released pending further Court Proceedings in New Jersey State Superior Court.
The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office asks anyone with additional information regarding this incident to contact them at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or you can contact The Ringwood Police Department at (973) 962-7017.
"The Rules Of The Court Require Us To Include A Statement, Which States: The Charges Are Merely Accusations And The Defendant And Or Defendants Are Presumed Innocent Unless And Until Proven Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER JULY 7, 2021: LAW, PASSAIC: